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...

Large animal models for the assessment of snakebite envenoming therapies

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Large animal models for the assessment of snakebite envenoming therapies


Abstract

Snakebite envenoming causes over 100,000 deaths annually, creating a need for more effective therapies. Traditionally, most preclinical testing relies on murine models with limited translational value. This review highlights the value of large animal models, particularly sheep and pigs, for studying venom toxicokinetics and antibody and small-molecule pharmacokinetics. Implementing clear guidelines and standardized endpoints in large-animal studies could help advance the clinical translation of new snakebite treatments.

Benard-Valle, M., Ahmadi, S., Modahl, C. M., Neri-Castro, E., Alagón, A., Boyer, L., Ljungars, A., & Laustsen, A. H. (2026). Large animal models for the assessment of snakebite envenoming therapies. Npj Drug Discovery, 3(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44386-026-00043-8