AGE-RELATED BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SOUTH AMERICAN RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus durissus terrificus) VENOM

M. F. D. Furtado(1), M. C. Santos(2), A.S. Kamiguti(3)

(1)Laboratory of Herpetology - Venoms, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (2)University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil, (3)Department of Haematology, University of Liverpool, UK.

ABSTRACT: An in vitro and in vivo comparative study was performed on the effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus venoms from a mother and its 15 newborns. The venoms were tested for protein content, lethality, proteolytic, myotoxic, hemorrhagic, and phospholipase A2 activity. The minimum coagulant dose in plasma and human fibrinogen, protrhombin, and Factor II activations were analyzed. The venoms were also analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). This showed that despite similar total protein content, the biological effects of the venoms were different. Venom from young snakes exhibited higher enzymatic and coagulant activities and higher myotoxicity compared to the mother’s. In addition, the PLA2 content paralleled myotoxicity. However, no difference could be detected in their toxicity (LD50 0.08 mg/Kg). High incidence of blood coagulation disorders and elevated circulating myoglobin may characterize systemic envenoming by young C. d. terrificus.

KEY WORDS: Age-related, biological activities, rattlesnake venom, Crotalus durissus terrificus

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Maria de Fátima Domingues Furtado, Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brasil, Email: fatifurtado@butantan.gov.br