Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
Cited by SciELO
Access statistics
Related links
Cited by Google
Similars in SciELO
Similars in Google
Share
Revista de la Facultad de Medicina
Print version ISSN 0120-0011
Abstract
BOLIVAR-BARBOSA, Janeth Alejandra and RODRIGUEZ-VARGAS, Ariadna Lorena. Neurotoxical activity of Micrurus snake venom and methods for its analysis. A literature review. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2020, vol.68, n.3, pp.453-462. Epub Nov 25, 2020. ISSN 0120-0011. https://doi.org/10.15446/revfacmed.v68n3.75992.
Introduction:
Snakes of the genus Micrurus have fossorial habits, passive temperament and scarce production of powerful venom with neurotoxic characteristics that block the synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction.
Objective:
To present an overview of the neurotoxicity of the Micrurus snake venom, and its functional characterization by ex vivo analysis methods.
Materials and methods:
A literature review was conducted in MedLine and ScienceDirect using specific terms and their combinations. Search strategy: type of studies: articles on the neurotoxicity of Micrurus snake venom and techniques to determine its neurotoxic activity by in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo models; publication period: articles published until June 2018; publication language: English and Spanish.
Results:
Out of 88 studies identified in the initial search, 28 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria (based on reading their titles and abstracts). 8 additional articles (books and reports) were included, since, according to the authors' opinion, they complemented the information reported by the selected studies. The studies included in the review (n=68) were original research papers (n=44), review articles (n = 16), and book chapters, reports, guides and online consultations (n=8).
Conclusions:
Studies performed using ex vivo muscle and nerve preparations to evaluate the effect of neurotoxins provide a good model for the characterization of the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic effect of the venom produced by snakes of the genus Micrurus.
Keywords : Elapidae; Micrurus; Phospholipases A2; Neuromuscular Junction (MeSH).