title: [Effects of lyophilization on four biological activities of Bothrops atrox venom (Serpentes: Viperidae)].
abstract: Fresh venom was obtained by milking both sexes of adult Bothrops atrox snakes. Four biological activities were studied in both fresh and freeze dried venom: local hemorrhagic in guinea pig skin, proteolytic upon casein (caseinolytic), esterasic upon TAME and fibrinogen clotting activity. All activities were detected in fresh venom: Hemorrhagic (DHM = 0.93, DHR = 9.75 micrograms protein), caseinolytic (0.25 U kunitz/mg protein), esterasic (0.70 U/mg protein) and clotting activity (75.7 U NIH/mg protein). After freeze drying, all the biological activity of B. atrox venom enzymes decreased: hemorrhagic, caseinolytic and clotting activity in 50% and the esterasic activity only in 15%. Our results show that lyophylization decreases several important biological activities in snake venom related to a decrease in the venom enzymatic activities.
authors.affiliation: Depto. Académico de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, A.P., Lima, Perú.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zavaleta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying / Q000379:methods; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms
vernacular_title: Efectos de la liofilización sobre cuatro actividades biológicas del veneno de Bothrops atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae).