title: Important biological activities induced by Thalassophryne maculosa fish venom.
abstract: The accidents caused by Thalassophryne maculosa fish venoms are frequent and represent a public health problem in some regions of Venezuela. Most accidents occur in the fishing communities and tourists. The clinical picture is characterized by severe pain, dizziness, fever, edema, and necrosis. Due to the lack of efficient therapy it may take weeks, or even months for complete recovery of the victims. The investigations presented here were undertaken to assess the eletrophoretical profile and principal biological properties of the T. maculosa venom. Venom obtained from fresh captured specimens of this fish was tested in vitro or in animal models for a better characterization of its toxic activities. In contrast to other fish venoms, T. maculosa venom showed relative low LD50. The injection of venom in the footpad of mice reproduced a local inflammatory lesion similar to that described in humans. Significant increase of the nociceptive and edematogenic responses was observed followed within 48 h by necrosis. Pronounced alterations on microvascular hemodynamics were visualized after venom application. These alterations were represented by fibrin depots and thrombus formation followed by complete venular stasis and transient arteriolar contraction. T. maculosa venom is devoid of phospholipase A2 activity, but the venom showed proteolytic and myotoxic activities. SDS-Page analysis of the crude venom showed important bands: one band located above 97 M(w), one band between 68 and 97 M(w), one major band between 29 and 43 M(w) and the last one located below 18.4 M(w) Then, the results presented here support that T. maculosa venom present a mixture of bioactive toxins involved in a local inflammatory lesion.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas del Mar, Núcleo Nueva Esparta, Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Josefina Ines
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sosa-Rosales
authors.forename: Ana Amélia
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Piran-Soares
authors.forename: Sandra H P
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Farsky
authors.forename: Harumi Ando
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopes-Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024541:Batrachoidiformes; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005397:Fish Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D005397:Fish Venoms; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2