Kinetics of the effect of crude Cerastes cerastes gasperetti venom

Abstract

Reported properties of venom proteins include neurotOxic and cytotoxic effects. defects in coagulation and effects from the local release of substances by enzymatic action [11. Severe haemorrhage around the site of the bite has been associated with vipered envenomation (2], attributed to proteolytic activities of venom haemorrhagic factors (3]. However. venom proteins free from proteolytic activities have been reported [4]. Cerastes cerastes gaspererri (the horned viper), is widely distributed throughout Africa and Southwestern Asia, and is the commonest snake in Saudi Arabia. We have recently studied the effect of a crude extract of the species venom on the activity of key enzymes of metabolism using cultured human fibroblasts [5). Dramatic reductions in the specific activities of glucose and glycogen degradative enzymes were observed. The most pronounced inhibitory effect was with citrate synthase activity. which dropped to 23.7 ± 3.9% of control activity when a flask of confluent cells was Incubated with 25 )J.g of crude venom for :> h. Under the same experimental conditions. creatine kinase activity almost doubled (187.8 ± 13.8% of control activity