The effect of the viper Cerastes cerastes
cerastes venom and
venom fractions on carbohydrate metabolism. Toxicon 31, 791-801, 1993.--I.p. injection of a sublethal dose of Cerastes cerastes
cerastes venom into white rats induced a marked
hypoglycemia after 15 min. This
hypoglycemia continued for at least 24 hr.
Hypoglycemia was accompanied by a significant increase of liver and muscle
glycogen at 15-30 min and 8 hr. Plasma
lactate levels were significantly increased for most of the 24 hr test period, and was accompanied by a marked decrease of liver
lactate levels. Levels of skeletal muscle
lactate increased significantly.
Viper venom significantly increased levels of plasma, liver and skeletal muscle
pyruvate for most of the 24 hr test period. Cerastes cerastes
cerastes venom was fractionated using gel filtration into six fractions. Each of the first four fractions caused a significant
hypoglycemic effect at some point of the 6 hr test period, while fraction I also produced a
hyperglycemia 30 min after administration. Fraction III, the only fraction to show a continuous
hypoglycemic effect during the 6 hr test period, significantly increased plasma
insulin levels 30 min
after treatment. It is suggested that the
hypoglycemia may be due to a direct effect of
venom components on plasma
insulin levels.