Cardiotoxic Effects of Micrurus surinamensis (Cuvier, 1817) Snake Venom

• Published in: Cardiovascular toxicology Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 462 - 471
• Main Authors: Reis, Lilian de Paula Gonçalves, Botelho, Ana Flávia Machado, Novais, Clara Rojo, Fiúza, Aparecida Tatiane Lino, Barreto, Maira Souza Oliveira, Ferreira, Marina Guimarães, Bonilla, Cesar, Chavez-Olórtegui, Carlos, Melo, Marília Martins
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Arrhythmia; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - chemically induced; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology; Atrial Premature Complexes - chemically induced; Atrial Premature Complexes - physiopathology; Atrioventricular Block - chemically induced; Atrioventricular Block - physiopathology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Body weight; Cardiac muscle; Cardiology; Cardiotoxicity; Cardiotoxins; Coral Snakes; Creatine kinase; Damage; Degeneration; EKG; Elapid Venoms - toxicity; Electrocardiogram; Electrocardiography; Enzymes; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Guinea Pigs; Heart Rate - drug effects; Inoculation; Male; Micrurus surinamensis; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscles; Myocytes, Cardiac - drug effects; Myocytes, Cardiac - metabolism; Myocytes, Cardiac - ultrastructure; Myonecrosis; Necrosis; Neurotoxins; Paralysis; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Poisoning; Poisonous snakes; Skeletal muscle; Snakes; Time Factors; Toxins; Transmission electron microscopy; Venom; Ventricle; Ventricular Premature Complexes - chemically induced; Ventricular Premature Complexes - physiopathology; Electrocardiography; Coral snakes; Electron microscopy; Elapidae; Myotoxicity; Arrhythmias
• ISSN: 1530-7905; 1559-0259
• DOI: 10.1007/s12012-021-09640-7

Micrurus surinamensis
is a coral snake from the Elapidae family of wide distribution in Amazonia Forest. Its venom contains neurotoxins that induce muscular and respiratory paralysis; however, its cardiovascular action is not yet characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiotoxic effects caused by
M. surinamensis
poisoning in rodents. Twelve guinea pigs (
Cavia porcellus
) were distributed in two groups (
n
 = 6) named as control and envenomed. The control group received 0.2 ml of PBS/BSA via intramuscular injection (IM), while envenomed animals received 0.75 µg of venom per g of body weight, also via IM. Electrocardiographic examination (ECG) and biochemical serum tests were conducted before and 2 h after inoculation. ECG of the envenomed animals revealed severe progressive arrhythmias including atrioventricular block, supraventricular, and ventricular extrasystoles. Serum biochemistry showed significant increase in CK, CK-MB, and LDH enzymes corroborating the skeletal and cardiac muscle damage. Myonecrosis and degeneration were observed in both skeletal and heart muscle; nevertheless, transmission electron microscopy revealed cardiac muscle fibers fragmentation. In conclusion,
M. surinamensis
venom has a potent cardiotoxic activity eliciting arrhythmogenic effects and heart damage after only 2 h of envenomation.