Venom Mass Fingerprints for Species Delimitation, Reloaded: A Test Case with Italian Scorpions (Euscorpius)

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  Venom Mass Fingerprints for Species Delimitation, Reloaded: A Test Case with Italian Scorpions (Euscorpius) Abstract Scorpion venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive compounds including proteins, peptides and enzymes. Although venoms exhibit substantial intraspecific variation, some compounds appear to be species-specific, highlighting their potential as chemotaxonomic markers. Venom mass fingerprints (MFPs) derived from Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry (MS) have been proposed as a means of delimiting species. However, their utility for species delimitation has rarely been evaluated against independent sources of taxonomic evidence. In the present study, the performance of MALDI-TOF MS-based venom peptide barcoding (mass ranges of m/z 800‒4500 and m/z 3000‒10,000) was assessed in 52 populations of eight Italian species of the scorpion genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876, representing different levels of evolutionary divergenc...

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 LD50) 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 after SC and IV administration to severe epithelial disorganization and Sertoli cell vacuolization after IM and IP administration. Sperm motility and viability declined significantly after IP injection, accompanied by increased morphological abnormalities. Oxidative stress markers (ROS, NO, H2O2, LOOH, MDA) rose in both sexes, with higher levels in males and maximal induction via the IP route. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) decreased in testes but increased in ovaries, indicating divergent redox responses. IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA were strongly upregulated by IP exposure in both sexes, revealing a pronounced inflammatory reaction. Bax expression confirmed increased apoptotic signaling, particularly following IP administration. These findings demonstrate that acute B. atrox envenoming can compromise male gonadal integrity while sparing ovarian structure with preservation of antioxidant enzyme activity, highlighting an overlooked dimension of viperid venom pathophysiology.
Kallel, H., Ghariani, M., Lakhrem, M., Aroui, M., Rebeh, I. B., Boudawara, O., Pujo, J. M., Resiere, D., Alsibai, K. D., Lontsi, G. R., Houcke, S., & Amara, I. B. (2026). Acute gonadal toxicity induced by Bothrops atrox venom in mice. Toxicon, 109243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109243