Analise histologica do aparato venenifero e caracterização farmaco-bioquimica da peçonha de Vitalius dubius (Araneae, Theraphosidae) / Histological analysis of the venom apparatus and biochemical and pharmacological characterization of venom from Vitalius dubius (Araneae, Theraphosidae)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

Vitalius dubius is a medium-sized, non-aggressive tarantula found in southeastern Brazil. In this work, we examined the histological organization of the venom apparatus of V. dubius and investigated some biochemical and pharmacological properties of this spider´s venom. The venom apparatus consisted of two chelicerae fitted with large fangs for prey immobilization and venom injection. Each chelicera contained bundles of striated muscle involved in fang movement and also housed one venom gland that was surrounded by, but unattached to, these muscle bundles. The gland was closely associated with a helicoidally arranged muscle layer responsible for gland compression and venom extrusion through an inner fang duct that opened on the anterior face of the gland. Within the gland, an elastic basal membrane attached to muscles supported the secretory epithelium. This epithelium consisted of anastomosed cells, with peripheral nuclei and cytoplasmic elongations extending towards the gland lumen in an arrangement organized mainly by F-actin filaments. These elongations supported a complex network of vesicles and cisternae involved in venom biosynthesis. Ultrastructural analysis showed an abundance of organelles involved in protein synthesis, including smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and lysosomes. Nuclei with evident nucleoli were seen. During venom production, the main ultrastructural changes were epithelial compactation, greater organelle abundance and alterations in nuclear shape. Venom was milked regularly by electrical stimulation. In absolute terms, females yielded more venom than males [23.1+2.3 mg (n=11) versus 12.5+0.7 mg (n=16) of venom/spider/milking], although when expressed in terms of body weight, males had slightly but significantly greater yields. Venom yield decreased with successive milkings and with spider age. SDS-PAGE showed that the venom contained few high molecular mass proteins, but a variety of small molecules (peptides). The venom was devoid of proteases but contained considerable hyaluronidase activity (estimated molecular mass: 45 kDa). ELISA showed that the venom reacted with immunoglobulins from commercial anti-arachnid antivenom raised against the venoms of Loxosceles gaucho (spider), Phoneutria nigriventer (spider) and Tityus serrulatus (scorpion). Immunoblotting showed that only venom components >30 kDa were responsible for this immunoreactivity. Vitalius dubius venom had no hemolytic activity but was cytotoxic to cultured leukemic cells (up to 300 µg/mL). The venom caused potent, dose-dependent (0.1-100 µg/site) dorsal skin edema in rats that was mediated by serotonin and nitric oxide but not by bradykinin or histamine. The edema-forming activity was not neutralized by commercial anti-arachnid antivenom. The venom (100 µg) was weakly cardiotoxic in the cockroach isolated heart and did not contract non-vascular smooth muscle (isolated guinea pig ileum and rat anoccocygeus), nor did it significantly alter the contractile responses to a variety of agonists in these preparations. However, electrically-induced muscle contractures in the anoccocygeus were attenuated by co-incubation with the venom. Reversible neuromuscular blockade was seen in indirectly stimulated chick biventer cervicis preparations (10-50 µg/mL), with a less potent action in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations (at 80 µg/mL). Attenuation of the responses to exogenous acetylcholine (110 µM) and KCl (20 mM) in avian preparations suggested that the venom affected postsynaptic nicotinic receptors and had a direct action on muscle. Marked muscle contracture was also seen with the venom. Fractionation of the venom by reverse-phase chromatography yielded three major groups of proteins, two of which produced both edema and neuromuscular blockade while the third was inactive in these assays. These findings indicate that V. dubius venom contains at least two toxins that cause edema and/or produce neuromuscular blockade.

ASSUNTO(S)

aranha caranguejeira vitalius dubius venom apparatus aparato venenifero peçonhas tarantulas venom

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados