Pathological damage induced by a Bothrops alternatus hemorrhagic metalloproteinase.

GAY, CLAUDIA C.; MARUÑAK, SILVANA; TEIBLER, PAMELA; ACOSTA, OFELIA; LEIVA, LAURA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB). 43rd Annual Meeting.; 2007

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Snake Venom Metalloproteinases are multiple domain enzymes whose principal toxic effects are due to disruption of the hemostatic system.  In a previous study we evaluated a wide variety of local damage induced by a hemorrhagic metalloproteinase (class P-III) isolated from B. alternatus venom from Argentinean northeast. In this work, systemic alterations produced by this metalloproteinase were studied in mice. Histological and lethality assays were carried out. Various i.v. doses of hemorrhagin were evaluated. One hour after injection, mice were sacrificed and lungs, heart, kidneys and liver were dissected out for light microscopic observation. Lethality was determined by the i.p. route. Histological observations in lungs showed mainly hemorrhagic areas in alveolar spaces, congestion and enhancement of alveolar septum due polymorphonuclear infiltrate and mononuclear cells. Kidney examination revealed congestion, subcapsular hemorrhage with local capsule detachment, inflammatory infiltrate and low degeneration of tubular cells. Congestion of blood vessels and turbid degeneration of hepatocytes was observed in liver only at high doses. No alterations were evidenced in the myocardium at doses assayed. Besides, 250 ìg/g of enzyme induced 100% lethality. It is concluded that B. alternatus metalloproteinase play a relevant role in systemic damage characteristics of bothropic envenomation.