title: Neuromuscular activity of Bothrops fonsecai snake venom in vertebrate preparations.
abstract: The neuromuscular activity of venom from Bothrops fonsecai, a lancehead endemic to southeastern Brazil, was investigated. Chick biventer cervicis (CBC) and mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) preparations were used for myographic recordings and mouse diaphragm muscle was used for membrane resting potential (RP) and miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) recordings. Creatine kinase release and muscle damage were also assessed. In CBC, venom (40, 80 and 160μg/ml) produced concentration- and time-dependent neuromuscular blockade (50% blockade in 85±9 min and 73±8 min with 80 and 160μg/ml, respectively) and attenuated the contractures to 110μM ACh (78-100% inhibition) and 40mM KCl (45-90% inhibition). The venom-induced decrease in twitch-tension in curarized, directly-stimulated preparations was similar to that in indirectly stimulated preparations. Venom (100 and 200μg/ml) also caused blockade in PND preparations (50% blockade in 94±13 min and 49±8 min with 100 and 200μg/ml, respectively) but did not alter the RP or MEPP amplitude. In CBC, venom caused creatine kinase release and myonecrosis. The venom-induced decrease in twitch-tension and in the contractures to ACh and K(+) were abolished by preincubating venom with commercial antivenom. These findings indicate that Bothrops fonsecai venom interferes with neuromuscular transmission essentially through postsynaptic muscle damage that affects responses to ACh and KCl. These actions are effectively prevented by commercial antivenom.
authors.affiliation: Serpentário do Centro de Estudos da Natureza e Instituto de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento (IP&D), Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP), Avenida Shishimi Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, 12240-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Serpentário do Centro de Estudos da Natureza e Instituto de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento (IP&D), Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP), Avenida Shishimi Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, 12240-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vânia Ma
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Giaretta
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem Wenceslau Braz, Avenida Cesário Alvin, 566, 37501-059, Itajubá, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Prudêncio
authors.affiliation: Serpentário do Centro de Estudos da Natureza e Instituto de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento (IP&D), Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP), Avenida Shishimi Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, 12240-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edvana O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor Rf
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita Co
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Collaço
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Anhanguera Educacional - Unidade I, Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyslop
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Léa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Simioni
authors.affiliation: Serpentário do Centro de Estudos da Natureza e Instituto de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento (IP&D), Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP), Avenida Shishimi Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, 12240-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cogo
keywords: Bothrops fonsecai; myotoxicity; neuromuscular blockade; neurotransmission; post-synaptic