J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis.

Vol.9, No.2, p.445, 2003.

Poster - ISSN 1678-9199.

 

RENAL EFFECTS OF CROTOXIN ISOLATED FROM Crotalus durissus cascavella VENOM

 

MARTINS, A.M.C., TOYAMA, M.H., MARANGONI, S., OLIVEIRA, D.G., HAVT, A., NOBRE, A.C.L., ALMEIDA, A.C.P., BARBOSA, P.S.F., FACÓ, P.E.G., MENEZES, D.B., FONTELES, M.C., MONTEIRO, H.S.A. 

 

Departamento de Bioquímica, UNICAMP, SP and Federal University of Ceará, UFC. 

 

Objectives: The most serious systemic change and primary cause of death caused by rattlesnake snake bit is acute renal failure, thus we investigate the role of the crotoxin, isolated from C. d. cascavella venom on the renal function, as well as, study its renal histological alterations.

Methods and Results: The isolated rat kidney system was prepared following to Fonteles et al., (Am J, Physiol., 244, 235-246, 1983). After 30 minutes, the perfusion pressure (PP) was measured and samples of perfusate and urine were taken at 10 minutes intervals. Samples were analyzed for sodium, potassium, inulin and osmolality.  Perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascular resistance (RVR), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary flow (UF), percent of sodium tubular transport (%TNa+) and percent of potassium tubular transport (%TK+) were observed. Maximum effects were seen in the last 30 minutes of each perfusion named 120 minutes. Treated group (ctx) was compared to a control group (ct) analyzed by Student t Test (*p<0,05). Crotoxin (5 mg/ml) increased the PP (ct120= 114.3 ± 3.2 mmHg, ctx120= 156.6 ± 5.1 mmHg*), RVR (ct120= 5.3 ± 0.05 mmHg/mL.g-1.min-1, ctx120= 7.1 ± 0.4 mmHg/mL.g-1.min-1*), GFR (ct120= 0.65 ± 0.01mL.g-1.min-1, ctx120= 1.57 ± 0.33mL.g-1.min-1*), UF (ct120= 0.15 ± 0.002 mL.g-1.min-1, ctx120= 0.42 ± 0.07mL.g-1.min-1*) and decreased %TNa+ (ct120= 81.2 ± 0.3, ctx120= 71.9 ± 2.5 *) and  %TK+(ct120= 69.9 ± 0.9, ctx120= 62.8 ± 1.1 *).  Proteinaceous material was observed in the renal tubules and glomerulus in all kidneys treated with crotoxin.

Conclusion: These results suggest that crotoxin, isolated from Crotalus durissus cascavella venom cause acute nephrotoxicity.

 

Supported by: FAPESP, CNPq

 

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Alice Maria Costa Martins, Rua Antônio Augusto Apto. 101, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60000-000, Email: martinsalice@hotmail.com