Determination ofin vivo toxicity and in vitro cytotoxicity of venom from the Cypriot blunt-nosed viper Macrovipera lebetina lebetina and antivenom production

Nalbantsoy A (1), Karabay-Yavasoglu NU (2), Sayım F (3), Deliloglu-Gurhan I (1), Gocmen B (3), Arıkan H (3), Yildiz MZ (4)

(1) Ege University, Faculty of Engineering, Bioengineering Department, Izmir, Turkey; (2) Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Izmir, Turkey; (3) Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zoology Section, Izmir, Turkey; (4) Harran University, Faculty of Art and Science, Department of Biology, Zoology Section, Şanlıurfa, Turkey.

Abstract: The venomous Levantine viper, Macrovipera lebetina lebetina is endemic to Cyprus. The objective of this study was to investigate in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo lethality, and antivenom production followed by a re-immunization schedule in mice against Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom. The LD50 value was estimated as 7.58mg/kg within 24 hours by different venom doses administrated intraperitoneally in mice. Freund’s complete and incomplete adjuvants were used for first and second immunization of mice in antivenom production. A cell-based assay was performed to determine the effects of Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom and antivenom neutralizing potency on L929 cell viability. The snake venom toxicity and cytotoxicity were examined and comparison of results showed good correlation, the LD50 value was tenfold higher than the IC50 value. The IC50 value was 0.62 ± 0.18 μg/mL after 48 hours treatment while the calculated value was 1.62 ± 0.25 μg/mL for the culture media totally refreshed after two hours treatment with venom. The in vitro efficacy of antivenom against Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom was found to be low. This is the first report that describes the in vivo and in vitro toxic effects of Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom and antivenom production against this species.

Key words: Macrovipera lebetina lebetina, LD50, lethality, snake venom, antivenom.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: November 28, 2011.

Accepted: February 17, 2012.

Abstract published online: March 6, 2012;

Full paper published online: May 31, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

This study was approved by the Ege University Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (process number 2005/35).

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Ayse Nalbantsoy, Ege University, Faculty of Engineering, Bioengineering Department, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. Phone: +90 232 388 4955. Fax: +90 232 388 4955. Email: analbantsoy@gmail.com