title: Individual venom profiling of Crotalus durissus terrificus specimens from a geographically limited region: crotamine assessment and captivity evaluation on the biological activities.
abstract: Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) venom major components comprise crotoxin, crotamine, gyroxin and convulxin. Crotamine exerts a myotoxic action, among others, but its expression varies even amid snakes from the same region. Biochemical, enzymatic and pharmacological variations of venoms may be associated with the geography, climate, gender, age, and diet, as well as captivity time and venom extraction intervals. The present study aimed to characterize the Cdt venom from the Botucatu region, (SP, Brazil), by assessing its biochemical, pharmacological and enzymatic properties. Venoms from newly captured snakes and already-captured animals were characterized comparatively to verify the sexual, environmental (length of captivity) and ontogenetic variations that could influence the venom composition. Protein concentration, SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC were performed and the coagulant, toxic (LD50) and crotamine activities were assayed. Individual SDS-PAGE analyses (315 samples) were performed and the biological activities of the venom of 60 adults (captive and newly captured males and females) and 18 newborns were compared with the Brazilian Reference Venom. Crotamine was found in 39.7% (125/315) of the samples, as determined by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC. Protein concentration differed significantly between adults (75%) and newborns (60%). RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE analyses showed highly variable protein concentration and copious crotoxin isoforms; however, the LD50 values decreased during the captivity time. Cdt venom biological activities were similar among adult groups, but diminished during the captivity period. The current findings demonstrate that venoms vary significantly in terms activity and protein concentration, despite originating from the same specie and region.
authors: Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Department of Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis, Brazil.
authors: Airton
authors: A
authors: Lourenço
authors: Camila Fernanda
authors: CF
authors: Zorzella Creste
authors: Luciana Curtolo
authors: LC
authors: de Barros
authors: Lucilene
authors: L
authors: Delazari dos Santos
authors: Daniel C
authors: DC
authors: Pimenta
authors: Benedito
authors: B
authors: Barraviera
authors: Rui Seabra
authors: RS
authors: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D017839:Crotalus; D003439:Crotoxin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000737:chemistry; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; C028890:convulxin; C017356:gyroxin; D003439:Crotoxin; C010563:crotamine