Abstract

GRANADOS-ZUNIGA, Jorge  and  ARAGON-ORTIZ, Federico. Alteraciones cardiovasculares inducidas por el veneno de Lachesis muta (Serpentes:Viperidae) y por su enzima fibrinogenolítica. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 1998, vol.46, n.4, pp.1149-1157. ISSN 0034-7744.

The fibrinogenolytic activity of Lachesis muta stenophyrs venom was studied. Wistar rats catheterized at carotid artery and jugular vein were inoculated with crude venom or enzyme and changes in arterial pressure, cardiac frequency and electrocardiogram were monitored. The enzyme induced a greater fibrinogen reduction than the crude venom without any cardiovascular or histological alteration. In vitro crude venom coagulated blood whereas the enzyme reduced fibrinogen in 23%. Results suggest the potential use of the fibrinogenolytic enzyme as antithrombotic agent.

Keywords : Snake venom; protease; fibrinogen; antithrombotic agent; Lachesis muta stenophyrs.