Species-Dependent Variations in the in Vitro Myotoxicity of Death Adder (Acanthophis) Venoms

• Main Authors: Janith C. Wickramaratna, Bryan G. Fry, Wayne C. Hodgson
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: sis; A. rugosus; venom; Antarc*; antarcticus
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.580.7883; http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/74/2/352.full.pdf

Based on early studies on Acanthophis antarcticus (common death adder) venom, it has long been thought that death adder snake venoms are devoid of myotoxicity. However, a recent clin-ical study reported rhabdomyolysis in patients following death adder envenomations, in Papua New Guinea, by a species thought to be different to A. antarcticus. Subsequently, a myotoxic phos-pholipase A2 component was isolated from A. rugosus (Irian Jayan death adder) venom. The present study examined the venoms of A. praelongus (northern), A. pyrrhus (desert), A. hawkei (Barkly Tableland), A. wellsi (black head), A. rugosus, A. sp. Seram and the regional variants of A. antarcticus for in vitro myotoxicity. Venoms (10–50 g/ml) were examined for myotoxicity using the chick directly (0.1 Hz, 2 ms, supramaximal V) stimulated biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. A significant contracture of skeletal muscle and/or inhibition of direct twitches were consid-