Insulin levels induced by T. serrulatus venom

Groups of female BALB/c or NOD mice (18–25 g, n = 4) were challenged with a non-lethal dose of Ts venom (0.5 mg/kg) using subcutaneous injection (similar to scorpion sting site), diluted in sterile physiological solution (0.9 % W/V of NaCl) in a final volume of 0.2 mL. Control groups received only sterile physiological solution. After reaching the hyperglycemia peak (1 h after envenomation), 0.5 mL of blood from the retro-orbital cavity was collected in heparinized tubes under anesthesia. The blood was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min, at 4 °C, to obtain the plasma. The insulin assay was performed using the immunoassay method according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Ultra Sensitive Mouse Insulin ELISA kit, Crystal Chem, USA).