title: Analysis of the intersexual variation in Thalassophryne maculosa fish venoms.
abstract: Gender related variation in the molecular composition of venoms and secretions have been described for some animal species, and there are some evidences that the difference in the toxin (s) profile among males and females may be related to different physiopathological effects caused by the envenomation by either gender. In order to investigate whether this same phenomenon occurs to the toadfish Thalassophryne maculosa, we have compared some biological and biochemical properties of female and male venoms. Twenty females and males were collected in deep waters of the La Restinga lagoon (Venezuela) and, after protein concentration assessed, the induction of toxic activities in mice and the biochemical properties were analyzed. Protein content is higher in males than in females, which may be associated to a higher size and weight of the male body. In vivo studies showed that mice injected with male venoms presented higher nociception when compared to those injected with female venoms, and both venoms induced migration of macrophages into the paw of mice. On the other hand, mice injected with female venoms had more paw edema and extravasation of Evans blue in peritoneal cavity than mice injected with male venoms. We observed that the female venoms had more capacity for necrosis induction when compared with male venoms. The female samples present a higher proteolytic activity then the male venom when gelatin, casein and FRETs were used as substrates. Evaluation of the venoms of females and males by SDS-PAGE and chromatographic profile showed that, at least three components (present in two peaks) are only present in males. Although the severity of the lesion, characterized by necrosis development, is related with the poisoning by female specimens, the presence of exclusive toxins in the male venoms could be associated with the largest capacity of nociception induction by this sample.
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Unit, Special Laboratory of Applied Toxinology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Butantan, 05503-009, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: mlferrei@usp.br.
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopes-Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Oriente, Escuela de Ciências Aplicadas del Mar, Boca de Rio, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sosa-Rosales
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Unit, Special Laboratory of Applied Toxinology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Butantan, 05503-009, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Bruni
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Unit, Special Laboratory of Applied Toxinology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Butantan, 05503-009, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Immunochemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Calheta
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Vieira Portaro
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Unit, Special Laboratory of Applied Toxinology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Butantan, 05503-009, São Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Unit, Special Laboratory of Applied Toxinology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Butantan, 05503-009, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024541:Batrachoidiformes; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005397:Fish Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D005397:Fish Venoms
keywords: Intersexual variation; Thalassophryne maculosa; Toadfish; Venom