title: Capillary damage in the area postrema by venom of the northern black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus molossus).
abstract: The Northern black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus molossus) venom is mainly hemotoxic, hemorrhagic, and neurotoxic. Its effects in the central nervous system are unknown and only poorly described for all Viperidae species in general. This is why we are interested in describe the damage induced by C. m. molossus venom in rat brain, particularly in the area postrema capillaries. Four C. m. molossus venom doses were tested (0.02, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20mg/kg) injected intramuscularly at the lower limb, incubated by 24 hours and the brains were harvested. Area postrema coronal sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, and examined to observe the venom effect in quantity of capillaries and porphology. Starting from the 0.10mg/kg treatment we observed lysed extravasated erythrocytes and also capillary breakdown, as a consequence of hemorrhages appearance. The number of capillaries decreased significantly in response to the venom dose increment. Hemorrhages could be caused by the metalloproteinase activity on the basal membrane and the apoptosis generated by L-amino acid oxidases. Hemolysis could be caused by phospholipase A2 hemotoxic effect. We conclude that C. m. molossus crude venom produces hemolysis, capillary breakdown, hemorrhages, and the reduction in number of capillaries in the area postrema.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meléndez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macias-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Neuroquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vargas-Caraveo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Neuroquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad Animal, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatica-Colima
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México.
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Plenge-Tellechea
keywords: Crotalus molossus molossus; L-amino acid oxidase; area postrema; metalloproteinase; phospholipase A2