title: Proteolytic, hemorrhagic, and neurotoxic activities caused by Leptodeira annulata ashmeadii (Serpentes: Colubridae) Duvernoy's gland secretion.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 47423, Caracas 1041, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Girón
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Navarrete
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Acosta
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012910:Snake Venoms