Estudos bioquímicos e toxinológicos comparativos entre as peçonhas de machos e fêmeas de Bothrops mattogrossensis

Abstract

Bothrops mattogrossensis snake was originally described in 1925 by Amaral, however, studies with this species are still scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the biochemical and toxic effects of crude venom pools extracted from Bothrops mattogrossensis males (PB_BmatM) and females (PB_BmatF). The protein profile of each venom was characterized and the hemolytic, oxidant and coagulant effects were evaluated and compared between males and females. Chromatographic profiles and protein band patterns showed similarities between pools. Erythrocytes of types A and B present a higher percentage of hemolysis in the presence of both venoms and were more susceptible to hemolysis in the presence of fatty acids and calcium chloride, suggesting a possible action of phospholipases A2. During the hemolytic activity, visible hemagglutination was observed in the highest amounts of PB_BmatF and PB_BmatM evaluated. When compared to the control, the reduction in percentages of hemoglobins oxidized to methaemoglobin in the presence of 1000μg of the venoms were 30% (BmatM) and 35% (BmatF), whereas in 100μg BmatM it was 22.5%. PB_BmatM presented lower plasma coagulation time and both venoms presented dose-dependent activity inversely proportional to coagulation time. Therefore, the description and the comparative evaluation of the biochemical and toxinological effects triggered by the crude venoms of males and females of B. mattogrossensis provided additional information on the toxicity, in vitro, of these venoms. Still, these results open new questions and demand on the performance of the venom in front of the different blood types of the ABO system.