Other toxins acting on Sodium channel site III, as Tx2-6, fail to induce priapism possibly by pharmacokinetic reasons but this should still be investigated experimentally. The question whether selleck compound these other toxins that act on Sodium channel site III interfere with NO/NOS/cGMP system was never addressed and could eventually explain why these other toxins don’t induce priapism. The cascade of events triggered by the toxin is currently under investigation

in our laboratory. It is clear though, that more investigations are needed to identify the ultimate mechanism of action involved in the erectogenic effect as well as the local consequences of a long-term use of this toxin. We conclude that crude venom and pure Tx2-6 toxin seem to produce identical effects on the organs examined suggesting that the possible cause of death is lung intra alveolar hemorrhage; toxin and crude venom seem to exert mild to moderate effects on brain tissue as suggested by our previous results (Troncone et al., 2011). In addition, the observed edema could be alternatively

attributed to the respiratory impairment caused by the severe lung hemorrhage. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Daniel Pimenta and Dr. Isabel F. C. Correia (Biochemistry Laboratory – I. Butantan) for mass spectrometry of fractions and amino acid sequencing and the technical support of Mr. Wilson B. D’Ávila. Supported by research grants from FAPESP No. 98/02039-0 5-FU mw to LRPT and 06/57922-3 to MS. “
“The Farnesyltransferase skin of fish constitutes a pivotal immunological protection against the external environment. The layer of mucus on the fish surface, considered the first line of defence, participates in a number of functions including disease resistance, respiration, ionic and osmotic regulation, locomotion, reproduction, communication, feeding

and nest building (Negus, 1963, Ingram, 1980, Shephard, 1994 and Zhao et al., 2008). The mucus, such as that produced by the skin of the stingrays, has a complex set of components, which may include amino acid residues, peptides, complex carbohydrates, glycopeptides, glycolipids and other chemicals (Klesius et al., 2008, Alexander and Ingram, 1992 and Birkemo et al., 2003). Fish epidermal mucus was found to display antimicrobial activity against broad range of infectious pathogens (Mozumder, 2005 and Hellio et al., 2002). We recently described the antimicrobial activity of catfish Cathorops spixii mucus ( Ramos et al., 2012). Moreover, histone H2B and two ribosomal proteins are examples of proteins with antimicrobial activity that have been isolated from epidermal mucus of Atlantic cod ( Bergsson et al., 2005). Members of some families of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were also found to be important innate defence components in the epidermal mucosal layer of Moses sole fish (Pardachirus marmoratus) ( Oren and Shai, 1996), winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) ( Cole et al.