Barietin, a snake venom vascular endothelial growth factor from puff adder Bitis arietans venom, increases the heart rate with minor effect on blood pressure in rats

Posted by
  Barietin, a snake venom vascular endothelial growth factor from puff adder Bitis arietans venom, increases the heart rate with minor effect on blood pressure in rats ABSTRACT Snake venom vascular endothelial growth factors (svVEGFs) are homodimeric proteins comprising two equal subunits bound by two intermolecular disulfide bonds. The main biological effects of svVEGFs are local vasodilatation, increasing of vascular permeability, and hypotension. Barietin, a svVEGF purified from the venom of puff adder Bitis arietans , differs from other representatives of this toxin family by its shortened C-terminal amino acid sequence. No data about barietin effects on hemodynamics are available. Studying those in rats we found that barietin at a dose of 1 mg/kg significantly increased heart rate, exerting only a minor influence on blood pressure. In this respect, it differs from other svVEGFs having a significant effect on blood pressure. We aimed to find the barietin active fragment which m...

On current distribution of Androctonus aeneas Koch, 1839 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Posted by

 



On current distribution of Androctonus aeneas Koch, 1839 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Abstract

This work concerns a new consideration on the geographical distribution of Androctonus aeneas C.L. Koch, 1839 (Scorpiones) in Algeria. Historically, this species occupied the central band of Algeria, from Tébessa and Khenchela in the east, through Batna in the Belezma mountains, to Naâma in the west. Recent surveys by young researchers have noted an expansion of the range of this scorpion not only in the geographic distribution area predicted for this species by Lourenço et al. (2015) but also towards western Algeria (Aïn Témouchent, Sabdou, El Bayadh and Saïda) and towards the southwest of Algeria in Naâma and Béchar. These new data may enrich the understanding of this potentially dangerous species, but also to the known area of scorpion envenomation risk.

Ait Hammou, M., Dahmani, W., Cheddad, A., El Bouhissi, M., Feghoul, M.A., Benali, N., Boukhours, H., Rebbas, K., Bakel, A., Chelghoum, H., Tahri, D., Boussmaha, C., Nouar, I.E., Ziani, C.S.M.., Khacheb, Z., Megharbi, K. & Sadine, S.E. pp. 257-265., On current distribution of Androctonus aeneas Koch, 1839 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket vol. 20(3)