Anomalias cromáticas em Bothrops jararaca (Serpentes, Viperidae) Xantismo interfere na sobrevivência?

Esse artigo descreve pela primeira vez xantismo em dois exemplares de B. jararaca e um acidente ofídico causado por um desses espécimes. Possíveis vantagens adaptativas para as espécies portadoras de tal anomalia cromática são discutidas. Para isso, foram analisados um exemplar macho proveniente de Jaraguá do Sul – SC e uma fêmea (responsável pelo acidente ofídico) proveniente de São Roque – SP. Ambos os espécimes apresentaram coloração característica de xantismo. A dissecção e análises ovarianas demonstraram folículos em início de vitelogênese, indicativo de período reprodutivo e com características de nuliparidade. A dissecção e análise gonadal do macho mostraram a presença de ducto deferente enovelado, indicativo de maturidade sexual. O quadro clínico do paciente mostrou tratar-se de um caso típico de acidente botrópico, apresentando sintomatologia característica para esse tipo de acidente ofídico. Os resultados obtidos corroboram dados da literatura para outros casos de xantismo, com ocorrência em serpentes de hábito noturno, adultas e em idade reprodutiva. Foi constatada que a perda da coloração críptica habitual não conferiu vantagens, ou seja, o xantismo, provavelmente alterou as chances de sobrevivência em serpentes de hábitos não predominantemente noturnos.

Chromatic anomalies in Bothrops jararaca (Serpentes, Viperidae): Does xanthism affect survival? This article describes, for the first time, the xanthism in two specimens of B. jararaca. It also describes the snakebite caused by one of these specimens, followed by a discussion on the adaptive advantages (e.g. survival).

Peptidase activities in Crotalus durissus terrificus semen

To understand the role of peptidases in seminal physiology of Crotalus durissus terrificus, activity levels of representative enzymes in semen and their sensitivities to inhibitors, cofactors, and peptide hormones were evaluated. The existence of seminal fractions and the association of peptidases with these fractions were also characterized for the first time in snakes. The prominent inhibitors of aminopeptidases (APs) were amastatin for acid, basic, and neutral; bestatin for basic; and diprotin A for dipeptidyl-IV. Cystyl and prolyl-imino APs were similarly susceptible to the majority of these inhibitors. The basic and neutral were characterized as metallo-peptidases, acid AP was activated by MnCl2, and cystyl, prolyl-imino, and type I pyroglutamyl were characterized as sulphydryl-dependent APs. Angiotensin II, vasotocin, bradykinin, fertilization-promoting peptide, and TRH altered the majority of these peptidase activities; these peptides are possible substrates and/or modulators of these peptidases. Peptidase activities were found in all seminal fractions: seminal plasma (SP), prostasome-like (PR) structures, and soluble (S-) and membrane-bound fractions (MFs) of spermatozoa. The levels of activity of each peptidase varied among different seminal fractions. in SP, the higher activities were puromycin-insensitive neutral and basic APs. in PR, the higher activity was puromycin-insensitive neutral AP. In spermatozoa, the higher activity in subcellular SF was puromycin-sensitive neutral, while in MF both puromycin-sensitive and -insensitive neutral APs were equally higher than the other examined peptidases. Data suggested that these peptidases, mainly basic and neutral, have a high relevance in regulating seminal functions of C. d. terrificus.