Acute gonadal toxicity induced by Bothrops atrox venom in mice

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  Acute gonadal toxicity induced by Bothrops atrox venom in mice Abstract Bothrops atrox is responsible for most snakebite incidents in the Amazon region. Its venom is recognized for causing significant tissue damage and systemic effects. However, its effect on reproductive organs remains poorly explored. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of B. atrox venom on testes and ovaries of adult mice. Male and female mice were exposed to B. atrox venom (½ LD 50 ) via four administration routes subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV), and intraperitoneal (IP), followed by comprehensive assessment of gonadal histology, sperm function, oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and mRNA expression of inflammatory and apoptotic markers. Following B. atrox venom exposure, ovarian histological architecture remained preserved across all routes, whereas testicular tissue exhibited route-dependent injury ranging from moderate luminal apoptosis aft...

Functional and immunological variability of Viperid venoms across continents and cross-neutralization by Peruvian antivenoms

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By Holger Krisp - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75251850

Functional and immunological variability of Viperid venoms across continents and cross-neutralization by Peruvian antivenoms

Abstract

Snake envenomation remains a significant neglected tropical disease primarily treated with antivenoms, which, despite inherent limitations, continue to be the gold standard therapy. Snake venoms exhibit extensive compositional and functional diversity, posing challenges for universal antivenom efficacy. This study comprehensively evaluated venom composition, enzymatic activities, and immunological cross-reactivity across 24 Viperidae species from diverse geographic regions. Using protein profiling, enzymatic assays (proteolytic, amidolytic, clotting, and PLA2 activities), and phylogenetic analyses, we revealed marked interspecific variation. Bothrops species exhibited elevated SVMP-driven proteolytic activity, while Crotalus venoms demonstrated more balanced enzymatic profiles. Phylogenetic clustering highlighted evolutionary divergence and functional convergence among taxa. Immunoreactivity assays with Peruvian antibothropic, anticrotalic, and antilachesic antivenoms showed broad cross-recognition within Bothrops and Crotalus venoms, but limited efficacy against more distantly related Viperinae species. Western blot analyses confirmed these specificity patterns. Neutralization assays revealed differential inhibition: antibothropic antivenom effectively neutralized proteolytic activity, whereas anticrotalic antivenom preferentially inhibited PLA2-mediated effects. This functional variability highlights the biochemical complexity of viperid venoms and the constraints of current antivenoms. Our findings emphasize the urgent need to develop improved, broadly effective antivenom formulations capable of targeting the diverse toxin profiles of geographically and phylogenetically distinct viperid species, ultimately enhancing clinical management of snakebite envenomation worldwide.


Torrejón, D., Llontop, A., Proléon, A., Lazo, F., Urra, F., Yarlequé, A., & Vivas-Ruiz, D. E. (2026). Functional and immunological variability of Viperid venoms across continents and cross-neutralization by Peruvian antivenoms. Biochimie, 240, 88-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2025.10.013