Ontogenetic changes in the venom of the snake Lachesis muta stenophrys (bushmaster) from Costa Rica

 

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gutiérrez, José María, Ávila Agüero, Claudio, Camacho Mora, Zianne, Lomonte, Bruno
Formato: artículo original
Fecha de Publicación:1990
Descripción:A comparative study was performed on some enzymatic and toxic activities of venoms collected from newborn, one-year old, two-years old and adult (more than five-years old) specimens of Lachesis muta stenophrys. There was an increase in lethal, hemorrhagic, edema-forming, myotoxic, proteolytic and phospholipase A2 activities of venoms as snakes aged. The venom of newborn specimens was almost devoid of toxicity. On the other hand, venom from newborn specimens showed the highest coagulant effect of human plasma. Electrophoretic and immunochemical results demonstrated conspicuous differences between venoms of different ages. Observations on the feeding behavior indicated that specimens of L. muta of different ages displayed a similar pattern, characterized by rapid strike and bite, holding the prey until they stopped their movements and swallowing them afterwards. It is concluded that venom of newborn L. muta has very low toxic and proteolytic activities and that it undergoes conspicuous changes during the first year of life.
País:Kérwá
Institución:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Kérwá
OAI Identifier:oai:kerwa.ucr.ac.cr:10669/29159
Acceso en línea:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004101019090080Q
https://hdl.handle.net/10669/29159
Palabra clave:Aging
Animals
Blood Coagulation
Costa Rica
Crotalid Venoms
Eating
Hemorrhage
Humans
Lethal Dose 50
Mice
Phospholipases A
Phospholipases A2
Snake venom