Proteolytic, hemorrhagic, and neurotoxic activities caused by Leptodeira annulata ashmeadii (Serpentes: Colubridae) Duvernoy's gland secretion.
OBJECTIVE
The main goal was to explore the different toxin properties (proteolytic, hemorrhagic, and neurotoxic) of Leptodeira annulata ashmeadii Duvernoy's gland secretion (DGS).


METHODS
To separate and characterize the different proteins present in L. annulata ashmeadii DGS, 20% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was run. To partially purify the proteolytic activity, Mono Q2 column ion-exchange chromatography was used. Hemorrhagic activity was analyzed in chicken embryos and mice (skin and peritoneum). Neurotoxic disorders were analyzed in mice inoculated with L. annulata ashmeadii DGS.


RESULTS
The approximate relative mass of 21 protein bands was determined using the Multi-Analyst PC version 1.1 (Bio-Rad) program. L. annulata ashmeadii DGS proved to have proteolytic, hemorrhagic, and neurotoxic activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the properties of the secretions of its Duvernoy's gland, L. annulata ashmeadii should be added to the list of venomous colubrids.
Lemoine
Karel
K
Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 47423, Caracas 1041, Venezuela.
Girón
María E
ME
Aguilar
Irma
I
Navarrete
Luis F
LF
Rodríguez-Acosta
Alexis
A
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000187:drug effects; D017812:Colubridae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
D012910:Snake Venoms