AnalYsis of THE venom OF a Bothrops jararaca clutch keep in captivity

Travaglia-Cardoso, S.R.;Rocha, M.M.T., Furtado, M.F.D.

Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil

A Bothrops jararaca clutch (12 males, 11 females) kept in captivity was analysed using the mass and biometry parameters.  When they were 4 years old (adults) the males mass varied from 110 to 140g and the total lenght (TL) from 790 to 960mm,  the females mass from 335 to 755g and the TL from 1160 to 1495mm. Venom samples were collected (first extration) individually and the following parameters were analysed: weight of liquid and dry venom, total protein content and its eletrophoretic profile (SDS-PAGE). Females produced more venom than males when liquid (t= 0,05(2)21 = 16,81, P < 0,001) or liofilized venoms (t= 0,05(2)21 = 31,03, P < 0,001) were considered. The water content of the venom varied from 72 to 81%, independently from sex or size of the animals.   Regression analysis showed a significant relation between the amount of the produced venom and the TL of the females (F 0,05(1) = 13,234, P < 0,001). This was not true for males.  The total protein content varied significantly among the males (662 to 1148 mg/mg of venom) and among the females (755 to 1251 mg/mg of venom).  The electrophoretic profile presented greater intensity in the weights 60, 30 and 14 kDa.  All the females presented 12 homogeneous bands.  Sexual variation was found in the region 30 to 40 kDa: the females presented 4 clearcut bands and the males showed 4 to 8 bands superposed.  The females were bigger, presented greater amount of venom and this was fairly homogeneous.  The males were smaller and the venom presented greater variability in amount and in protein composition.  One may infer that these variations are related to the feeding habits of the species B. jararaca.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Silvia Regina Travaglia Cardoso, Rua Aliança Liberal, 425, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05088-000, Brasil, Email: silcardoso@zipmail.com.br