Objectives: In the present study we assessed the inflammatory potential of venom obtained from caterpillar genus Dirphia in an acute model of lung injury.
Material and methods: Injection of extract from the bristles of Dirphia sp. (EBD) into the pleural cavity of rats elicited an acute inflammation response characterized by fluid accumulation which contained a large number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).
Results: The results show that EBD induces an inflammatory response, with a significant increase in PMNs, exudate and nitric oxide within 4 h after a 0.04 mg/kg dose. The administration of anti-inflammatory drugs (fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, dexamethasone, rofecoxib, sodium diclofenac and pyrilamine) significantly reduced the inflammatory effect of EBD.
Conclusions: EBD causes an inflammatory reaction in the pleural cavity of rats involving a variety of inflammatory mediators, its action mechanism probably involving cellular injury and the exacerbated induction of cytokines and nitric oxide.