Neurotoxicity of Micrurus altirostris (Uruguayan coral snake) venom and its neutralization by commercial coral snake antivenom and specific antiserum raised in rabbits. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) [Clin Toxicol (Phila)] Journal article | | Title | Neurotoxicity of Micrurus altirostris (Uruguayan coral snake) venom and its neutralization by commercial coral snake antivenom and specific antiserum raised in rabbits. | | Author(s) | de Abreu VA, Leite GB, Oliveira CB, Hyslop S, Furtado Mde F, Simioni LR | | Institution | Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Departamento de Farmacologia, Campinas, Brazil. | | Source | Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2008 Jul; 46(6):519-27. | | Abstract | In this work, we studied the neuromuscular blockade caused by Micrurus altirostris venom (0.1-10 mug/mL) in indirect stimulated chick biventer cervicis and mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations and the ability of commercial antivenom (Instituto Butantan) and antiserum raised in rabbits to neutralize neurotoxicity and lethality in chicks and mice (LD(50) 0.042 and 0.255 mg/kg), injected i.m. and i.p., respectively, with venom (5 LD(50)):antivenom or antiserum mixtures (n = 6) of 1:1-1:2.5-1:5-1:10-1:20. The venom caused a complete and irreversible neuromuscular blockade in both preparations, inhibited the acetylcholine and carbachol contractures, without interfering on KCl response. The neuromuscular blockade was not Ca(2+) or temperature-dependent and did not affect the response to direct stimulation. Only a venom:antivenom or antiserum ratio of 1:20 neutralized the neuromuscular blockade in vitro and protected chicks and mice against 5 LD(50) of venom. Our results indicated that Micrurus altirostris venom interferes with postsynaptic neurotransmission and that commercial antivenom and rabbit antiserum have low efficacy in neutralizing the neurotoxicity and lethality of this venom. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 18584364 |
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