Toxinology of venoms from five Australian lesser known elapid snakes.
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol
; 111(4): 268-74, 2012 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22682331
ABSTRACT
Research into Australian elapid venoms has mainly focused on the seven genera of greatest clinical significance:
Acanthophis, Hoplocephalus, Notechis, Oxyuranus, Pseudechis, Pseudonaja and Tropidechis. However, even small species represent a potential for causing severe clinical envenoming. Further, owing to taxonomic distinctiveness, these species are a potential source of novel toxins for use in drug design and development. This is the first study to characterize the venoms of Cryptophis boschmai, Denisonia devisi, Echiopsis curta, Hemiaspis signata and Vermicella annulata. MALDI analysis of each venom, over the range of 4-40 kDa, indicated components in the weight range for three finger toxins (6-8 kDa) and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2) ; 12-14 kDA). Interestingly, C. boschmai venom was the only venom, which contained components > 25 kDa. All venoms (10 µg/ml) demonstrated in vitro neurotoxicity in the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation, with a relative rank order of H. signata ≥ D. devisi ≥ V. annulata = E. curta > C. boschmai. CSL polyvalent antivenom neutralized the inhibitory effects of C. boschmai venom but only delayed the inhibitory effect of the other venoms. All venoms displayed PLA(2) activity but over a wide range (i.e. 1-621 µmol/min./mg). The venoms of C. boschmai (60 µg/kg, i.v.), D. devisi (60 µg/kg, i.v.) and H. signata (60 µg/kg, i.v.) produced hypotensive effects in vivo in an anaesthetized rat preparation. H. signata displayed moderate pro-coagulant activity while the other venoms were weakly pro-coagulant. This study demonstrated that these understudied Australian elapids have varying pharmacological activity, with notable in vitro neurotoxicity for four of the venoms, and may produce mild to moderate effects following systemic envenoming.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Elapidae
/
Venenos Elapídicos
/
Neurotoxinas
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol
Asunto de la revista:
FARMACOLOGIA
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia