A comparative analysis of hemolithic activity between Cortalus molossus and Crotalus molossus nigrescens subespecies

Abstract

Blacktailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) has four subspecies distributed in México; two of them are distributed in Chihuahua. Literature shows that few studies have been done in order to analyze the composition of their venom. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate protein content and hemolytic damage by agarose-human erythrocyte substrate between the Crotalus molossus nigrescens and Crotalus molossus molossus subspecies. Mann Whitney’s nonparanteric test was used in order to get the statistics analysis at an IC95. Protein concentration of Crotalus m. nigrescens was 466 ± 35.0 mg mL^-1 andCrotalus m. molossus of 449 ± 90.0 mg mL^-1 there was no statistical difference detected at IC₉₅ (p>0.05). The protein profile of the venom of Crotalus m. nigrescens showed two protein bands with elevated masses approximately 230 kDa in comparison with Crotalus m. molossus that was of 16 kDa approximately. Crotalus m. nigrescens’s venom was 18 % more hemolytic (156.7±23.33 UHD) than Crotalus m. molossus’s (128±23.32 UHD) at the first hour and 20 % more hemolytic at the second hour, with UHD values of 116.7 ± 12.3 and 94 ± 9.8, respectively. The venom of the two subspecies did not show differences statistically at an IC₉₅ at the first hour (p>0.05) and second hour (p>0.05). It could be concluded that two subspecies samples showed iqual proteomic characteristics. These differences can be attributed to the different eating habits due to the altitude, geographical distribution and the season. It can also be concluded that more investigation regarding venom of rattlesnakes is needed.