Effect of Bothrops leucurus venom in chick biventer cervicis preparations

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) 2003-04, Vol.41 (5), p.595-603
• Main Authors: Prianti, Antonio C.G, Ribeiro, Wellington, Lopes-Martins, Rodrigo A.B, Lira-Da-Silva, Rejâne M, Prado-Franceschi, Julia, Rodrigues-Simioni, Léa, Cruz-Höfling, Maria Alice da, Leite, Gildo B, Hyslop, Stephen, Cogo, José C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholine; Animal poisons toxicology. Antivenoms; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bothrops; Bothrops leucurus; Chickens; Creatine Kinase - metabolism; Crotalid Venoms - pharmacology; Medical sciences; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Myotoxin; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents - pharmacology; Neuromuscular junction; Neuromuscular Junction - drug effects; Neurotransmission; Phospholipase A 2; Potassium Chloride; Toxicology; Venom
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/S0041-0101(03)00002-3

Bothrops leucurus is a poorly studied pitviper found in northeastern Brazil. We examined the action of B. leucurus venom (5–100 μg/ml) on contractile responses in chick biventer cervicis preparations. Muscle damage was assessed by quantifying the release of creatine kinase (CK) and by histological analysis. B. leucurus venom dose-dependently inhibited the contractile responses of indirectly stimulated preparations, the maximum inhibition with 100 μg of venom/ml being 74.0±6.6% (mean±SEM) after 120 min. The venom also reduced contractures to exogenous acetylcholine (55 and 110 μM) and K + (13.4 mM) (85–100% reduction with 100 μg of venom/ml) and increased the release of CK (348±139 U/ml in controls vs 1260±263 U/ml with 20 μg of venom/ml after 120 min, p