Exposição maternal ao veneno de Bothrops jararaca: efeitos na prole de camundongos

Objective – Bothrops jararaca snake is involved in almost 90% of all reports in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Little is known about the ef fect of maternal exposure to B. jararaca snake venom [ BjV ] on fetal development. This study was designed to investigate the effect of a mo derate dose of the venom (1.2 mg/kg sc on either gestation day GD5 or GD12), in pregnant mice and their offspring. Methods – In dams, during pregnancy, it was observed the body weight gain, food and water consumptions. In the last day of pregnancy, dams were submitted to a cesarean and the reproductive performance was measured. Thus, the fetuses body weight, the number of live and dead fetuses as wells as the external, visceral or skeletal alterations were assessed. Results – Results showed that the venom injection on GD5 did not change the dams weight and reproductive parameters, the fetuses weight, but it was observed high incidence of skeletal anomalies such as incomplete skull ossification and supernumerary ribs relative to controls. Dams treated in GD11 showed decreased food ingestion in the day after treat ment. Their offspring presented a high incidence of skeletal anomalies such as vertebrae anomalies, sternebrae anomalies and incomplete skull ossification, which might be a sign of craniostenosis, than controls. Conclusions – In conclusion, subcutaneous administration of 1.2 mg/kg BjV to pregnant mice either at GD4 or GD12 produced subtle maternal toxicity but a clear fetotoxicity. Whether these observations represent a reaction to treatment and, if so, the underlying mechanisms and their toxicological impact remain to be examined further in fu ture studies. Descriptors : Snake venoms; Bothrops jararaca ; Pregnancy; Congenital abnormalities Resumo