The decrease of hematocrit in the envenomation by B. jararaca must be a selleck chemicals consequence of hemolysis,

which contributes to the transformation of lectin into isolectin, that promotes the destruction of blood cell membranes as well as the formation of microthrombus of fibrin, a typical status of hemolytic anemia ( Burdmann, 1989 and Castro et al., 2004). It is known that B. jararaca venom generates a proximal and distal tubular necrosis and massive deposition of fibrin in glomerular capillaries ( Burdmann, 1989). The marked hemorrhage is a well-known feature of this envenomation that probably also contributes to the reduction of hematocrit. This hemorrhage has been attributed to the direct action of jararhagin (5–12% of venom composition) through the disruption of the endothelial cells ( Laing and Moura-da-Silva, 2005) and also to the reduction in the number of platelets ( Santoro et al., 2008) and due to the consume of coagulation factors (

Brasil, 2001). It is noteworthy that the protein content in plasma and in the membrane-bound fraction of the renal cortex and medulla are highly susceptible (decrease) to the action of B. jararaca venom. This pattern is different from that induced by C. d. terrificus venom, which promotes unchanged protein content in plasma and increased protein content in the membrane-bound fraction of renal cortex and medulla and in the soluble fraction of renal cortex ( Yamasaki et al., 2008). Regarding the urinary hyperosmolality observed in the NADPH-cytochrome-c2 reductase Bothrops envenomation it must be attributed to the loss of selleck products body fluid volume caused by the hemorrhage, and to the direct nephrotoxicity ( Burdmann, 1989) and the renal ischemia associated with vasoconstriction at glomerular level ( Castro et al., 2004). The fractionation of renal tissue into soluble and solubilized membrane-bound forms was efficient, as demonstrated by the evaluation of lactate dehydrogenase marker.

The alterations on aminopeptidase activities caused by B. jararaca venom are similar in the soluble fraction of the renal cortex and medulla, that are an increase of APB and DPPIV and a decrease of APN, PIP and PAP activities. The alterations on aminopeptidase activities caused by this venom in the membrane-bound fraction of the renal cortex and medulla are also similar (an increase of APA, a decrease of PIP and PAP and unaltered DPPIV), except for APN (a decrease in the cortex and unchanged in the medulla) and CAP (an increase in the cortex and a decrease in the medulla). Both patterns (for soluble and membrane fractions) are different from those induced by C. d. terrificus venom (general decrease in soluble and membrane fractions of renal cortex, increase of APB and decrease of PIP in the soluble fraction, and decrease of APA and DPPIV in the membrane fraction of the renal medulla) ( Yamasaki et al., 2008). The functional relevance of the effects of B.