title: Effect of Bothrops leucurus venom in chick biventer cervicis preparations.
abstract: Bothrops leucurus is a poorly studied pitviper found in northeastern Brazil. We examined the action of B. leucurus venom (5-100 microg/ml) on contractile responses in chick biventer cervicis preparations. Muscle damage was assessed by quantifying the release of creatine kinase (CK) and by histological analysis. B. leucurus venom dose-dependently inhibited the contractile responses of indirectly stimulated preparations, the maximum inhibition with 100 microg of venom/ml being 74.0+/-6.6% (mean+/-SEM) after 120 min. The venom also reduced contractures to exogenous acetylcholine (55 and 110 microM) and K(+) (13.4mM) (85-100% reduction with 100 microg of venom/ml) and increased the release of CK (348+/-139 U/ml in controls vs 1260+/-263 U/ml with 20 microg of venom/ml after 120 min, p<0.05). The accompanying morphological changes included multivacuolated, swollen, amorphous fibers and agglutinated myofibrils. These results indicate that B. leucurus venom can adversely affect neuromuscular transmission and produce muscle damage in avian preparations.
authors.affiliation: Serpentário do Centro de Estudos da Natureza, Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Universidade do Vale do Parai;ba (UNIVAP), Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
authors.forename: Antonio C G
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Prianti
authors.forename: Wellington
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Rodrigo A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lopes-Martins
authors.forename: Rejâne M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lira-Da-Silva
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prado-Franceschi
authors.forename: Léa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Simioni
authors.forename: Maria Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: da Cruz-Höfling
authors.forename: Gildo B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyslop
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cogo
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000818:Animals; D017837:Bothrops; D002645:Chickens; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D011189:Potassium Chloride
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000109:Acetylcholine