Author/Authors :
Kakanj, Maryam Toxicology and Pharmacology Department - School of Pharmacy - Medical Science University of Shahid Beheshti , Vatanpour, Hossein Toxicology and Pharmacology Department - School of Pharmacy - Medical Science University of Shahid Beheshti , Ghazi-Khansari, Mahmoud Pharmacology Department - School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Zare Mirakabadi, Abbas Venomous Animals and Antivenom Production Department - Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj , Daraei, Bahram Toxicology Department - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran
Abstract :
Objective: Envenomation by heamotoxic snakes constituted a critical health occurrence
in the world. Bleeding is the most sever consequence following snake bite with viperid and
crothalid snakes. It is believed that the degradation of vascular membrane caused hemorrhage;
in contrast, some suggested that direct cytotoxicity has role in endothelial cell disturbances.
This study was carried out to evaluate the direct toxicity effect of V. lebetina crude venom
on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). Methods: The effect of V. lebetina
snake venom on HUVECs growth inhibition was determined by MTT assay and neutral red
uptake assay. The integrity of cell membrane through LDH release was measured with the
Cytotoxicity Detection Kit. Morphological changes of endothelial cells were also evaluated
using a phase contrast microscope. Result: In MTT assay, crude venom showed a cytotoxic
effect on endothelial cells which was confirmed by the effect observed with neutral red assay.
Also, crude venom caused changes in the integrity of cell membrane by LDH release. The
morphological alterations enhanced in high concentration results in total cells number reduced.
Conclusion: V. lebetina venom showed potential direct cytotoxic effects on human endothelial
cells in a manner of concentration- dependent inhibition
Keywords :
Snake venom , Cytotoxicity effect , HUVEC , Hemorrhage , V. lebetina
