COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ACTIVITIES OF VENOMS OF BRAZILIAN FISHES WITH MEDICAL IMPORTANCE

BOLETINI-SANTOS D1, ERLICHMAN C1, KADURA A1, RAMOS AD1, CONCEIÇÃO K2, PIMENTA DC2, CHARVET-ALMEIDA P3, FIGUEIREDO SG4, HADDAD JRV5; LIMA C1, LOPES-FERREIRA M1.

1Lab. Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, 2Lab. Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada (CAT/CEPID), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo; 3Universidade Federal da Paraíba; 4Dep. Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória; 5Dep. Dermatologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista. Botucatu.

In Brazilian waters many species of venomous fishes are found, but 5 species are frequently involved with human accidents: Potamotrygon orbignyi (Po), Cathrops spixii (Cs), Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Pf), Scorpaena plumieri (Sp), and Thalassophryne nattereri (Tn). Usually, the clinical features induced by these fish venoms are pain, edema, and necrosis. In this work we compared the biological and biochemical activities induced by these different fish venoms. Toxic activities (nociception-10 µg, edema -10 µg, necrosis -30 µg) and alterations in the microcirculatory net were induced in Swiss mice by application of 10 µg of venoms, which were analysed by 12% SDS-PAGE and chromatography. Gelatinase, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and proteolytic activity were also determined. Tn induced the highest level of nociception and edema, and the venoms of Sp and Po induced the lowest levels of nociception or edema, respectively. Only Tn venom induced necrosis and hemolitic activity. Alterations in microcirculation were not observed after application of Sp venom. All venoms presented proteolytic activity, and Tn venom was devoid of PLA2. The SDS-PAGE and zymography showed a high similarity between Pf and Cs venoms. The chromatography shows that Po, Cs, Pf, and Tn presented a similar band around 18 kDa and Sp presented proteins with high molecular weight (> 100 kDa). This is the first study that compares the toxic activities and biochemical characteristics of the venoms from the major Brazilian venomous fishes: the venom of Tn showed the highest toxic activities and Sp venom presented the lowest, but with systemic effects.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Fapesp and FUNDAP.