Intrinsic Factors Associated with Dietary Toxin Quantity and Concentration in the Nuchal Glands of a Natricine Snake Rhabdophis Tigrinus.
J Chem Ecol
; 49(3-4): 133-141, 2023 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36881327
ABSTRACT
The snake Rhabdophis tigrinus sequesters cardiotonic steroids, bufadienolides (BDs), from ingested toads and stores them in the nuchal glands as defensive toxins. It has previously been shown that there are individual differences in the total quantity of BDs stored in the nuchal glands of adult R. tigrinus and that BD quantities and profiles of R. tigrinus exhibit geographic variation. However, no previous study has examined the total quantity of BDs as a percentage of body mass (relative BD quantity) and the concentration of BDs in the nuchal gland fluid (BD gland concentration). In addition, intrinsic factors that are associated with relative BD quantity and BD concentration have not been examined within a single population. We collected 158 adult snakes from an area of central Japan from May to October and analyzed their BD quantities by UV analysis. We assessed individual differences in BD quantity, relative BD quantity and BD gland concentration. We found that 1) in approximately 60% of the 158 individuals, the BD gland concentration was greater than 50%; 2) body length and body condition are positively correlated with relative BD quantity and BD gland concentration; 3) even in a single population, individual differences of BD quantity are large, and are greater in females than in males; and 4) relative BD quantity and BD gland concentration of females during the gestation season are lower than those during the non-gestation season.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Toxinas Biológicas
/
Bufanólidos
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Colubridae
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Animals
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Female
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Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Chem Ecol
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón