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Physiopathological characterization of the venom of the freshwater stingray Potamotrygon sp C
Author(s) -
Santos Juliane Monteiro,
Santos Janaina C.,
Lopes Monica F.,
Marques Elineide E.,
Seibert Carla S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1219.4
Subject(s) - stingray , mucus , edema , biology , nociception , anatomy , zoology , medicine , ecology , biochemistry , receptor
Freshwater stingrays are benthic animals that almost always behave passively and preferentially inhabit shallow water. Their tail barb is rigid and serrated, and is covered by glandular epithelium. Injury from the barb is followed by local symptoms such as bleeding, intense throbbing pain, and edema in the affected member. Nausea, salivation, convulsion, and tachycardia are reported systemic changes. The Potamotrygon sp. C is stingray species most often encountered in rivers of the state of Tocantins, Brazil. Objective To evaluate the physiopathological changes induced by poisoning caused by Potamotrygon sp. C. Methods Mucus was removed from the epithelial tissue at the barb and from the disc of the animal (far from the barb), and an extract was prepared from the glandular epithelium that covers the barb and analized. Different concentrations of this material (25, 50, 100 μg/ml) were used to evaluate the edematogenic, nociceptive, hemorrhagic, and necrotic effects in male and female Swiss mice. Results The nociceptive and edematogenic activity was dose‐dependent, with the most intense response observed for the mucus collected from the disc. No hemorrhagy was observed, and necrosis was limited to small dots on the tissue evaluated. Conclusion It was evident that the greatest changes caused by poisoning with Potamotrygon sp. C are related to contact of the barb‐injured tissue with the mucus that covers the animal.