Neuromuscular effect of venoms from adults and juveniles of Crotalus durissus cumanensis (Humboldt, 1811) from Guajira, Colombia

Abstract

A toxinological study was performed to compare the neuromuscular effect of venom from adult and juvenile specimens from Crotalus durissus cumanensis from Guajira, Colombia. Both venoms exhibited neurotoxic activity in chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. In addition, venom from juveniles was faster than adults to produce a neuromuscular blockade. In the contrary to the venom from juvenile's, at high doses, adult's venom affected the ACh and KCl contractures, indicating a myotoxic effect.

Keywords: Chick biventer cervicis; Myotoxic; Neuromuscular blockade; Presynaptic neurotoxins.