title: Venomic and pharmacological activity of Acanthoscurria paulensis (Theraphosidae) spider venom.
abstract: In the present study we conducted proteomic and pharmacological characterizations of the venom extracted from the Brazilian tarantula Acanthoscurria paulensis, and evaluated the cardiotoxicity of its two main fractions. The molecular masses of the venom components were identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) after chromatographic separation (HPLC). The lethal dose (LD(50)) was determined in mice. Nociceptive behavior was evaluated by intradermal injection in mice and the edematogenic activity by the rat hind-paw assay. Cardiotoxic activity was evaluated on in situ frog heart and on isolated frog ventricle strip. From 60 chromatographic fractions, 97 distinct components were identified, with molecular masses between 601.4 and 21,932.3 Da. A trimodal molecular mass distribution was observed: 30% of the components within 500-1999 Da, 38% within 3500-5999 Da and 21% within 6500-7999 Da. The LD(50) in mice was 25.4 ± 2.4 μg/g and the effects observed were hypoactivity, anuria, constipation, dyspnea and prostration until death, which occurred at higher doses. Despite presenting a dose-dependent edematogenic activity in the rat hind-paw assay, the venom had no nociceptive activity in mice. Additionally, the venom induced a rapid blockage of electrical activity and subsequent diastolic arrest on in situ frog heart preparation, which was inhibited by pretreatment with atropine. In the electrically driven frog ventricle strip, the whole venom and its low molecular mass fraction, but not the proteic one, induced a negative inotropic effect that was also inhibited by atropine. These results suggest that despite low toxicity, A. paulensis venom can induce severe physiological disturbances in mice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Barbosa F
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.forename: Fagner Neves
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Andréa C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: e Carvalho
authors.forename: Claudia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Arenas
authors.forename: Harry Morales
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Duque
authors.forename: Jacqueline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Jéssica K A
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Macêdo
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galante
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Márcia R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mortari
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima M
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Almeida Santos
authors.forename: Elisabeth F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D054715:Cardiotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D059225:Nociception / Q000187:drug effects; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D051381:Rats; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013112:Spiders / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D054715:Cardiotoxins; D013111:Spider Venoms