Neurotoxicological effects of a thrombin-like enzyme isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (preliminary study).
A thrombin-like enzyme, purified from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus by gel filtration and affinity chromatography, showed a single protein band in Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with a molecular weight of about 33kDa. Clear cellular morphological changes, deep ganglioside level modifications in some brain areas and behavioral alterations in pup rats injected with this protein were detected. Ganglioside composition, one of the chemical markers of brain maturation, was altered specially in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The most reliable behavioral effects were a delayed, maturation of the righting reflex, posture and motor response after treatment. These effects were consistent with the histological changes revealed in the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex of treated neonate rats, areas related to motor activities.
Ruiz de Torrent
Raquel M
RM
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.
Bongiovanni
Bettina
B
Leiva
Laura C
LC
Evangelista de Duffard
Ana M
AM
Rodríguez
Juan P
JP
Acosta de Pérez
Ofelia C
OC
Duffard
Ricardo
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D017839:Crotalus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D005732:Gangliosides; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases