Department of Anatomy, Histology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, Kosice, 041 81, Slovakia.
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, Kosice, 041 81, Slovakia; Zoological Department, Zoological Garden Košice, Široká 31, 040 06, Košice, Kavečany, Slovakia.
Toxicon. 2021 Jan 15;189:79-90. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.10.025. Epub 2020 Oct 29.
Among the captivating world of venomous snakes, an outstanding group of cobras from the family Elapidae is characterized by a distinctive structure of proteroglyphous venom apparatus that allows the ejection of venom from the fangs and formation of aerosol particles. The venom of "spitting" cobras is innocuous when sprayed over the intact skin, but contact with the eye surface is followed by ophthalmia and a temporary blindness, that may remain permanent, unless immediate and adequate medical interventions are carried out. The aim of this work was to monitor and evaluate induced vasoactive effects as well as embryotoxic effects with the regard to the whole crude venom of four "spitting" cobra species (African species Naja ashei and Naja nigricollis, Asian species Naja siamensis and Naja sumatrana). Vasoactive effects were visualized using the Hen's Egg Test - Chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test. The Chick Embryotoxicity Screening Test (CHEST) was used to estimate embryotoxicity and the data were then processed using statistical analysis. The highest embryonic mortality rate was observed after administration of venom from Naja nigricollis among the whole crude venoms tested. All tested venoms induced fast spreading of pathological alterations in the blood vessels on the chorioallantoic membrane. Our study discloses a detailed insight into microscopic level processes in venom-induced changes observed on the chicken embryos and on the vascular network in their chorioallantoic membrane. This article also highlights the increasing importance of the role of the chicken embryos and the importance of observing changes in the chorioallantoic membrane applied for toxicological and medical research as an appropriate alternative animal model in relation to 3R's principles.
在毒蛇的迷人世界中，来自眼镜蛇科的一组杰出的眼镜蛇以其独特的前腭型毒液器官结构为特征，这种结构允许毒液从毒牙中喷出并形成气溶胶颗粒。当“喷毒”眼镜蛇的毒液喷到完整的皮肤上时是无害的，但如果接触到眼睛表面，就会引起眼炎和暂时失明，如果不立即进行适当的医疗干预，可能会导致永久性失明。本工作的目的是监测和评估四种“喷毒”眼镜蛇物种（非洲物种 Naja ashei 和 Naja nigricollis、亚洲物种 Naja siamensis 和 Naja sumatrana）的全粗毒液引起的血管活性作用和胚胎毒性作用。使用鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜（HET-CAM）试验可视化血管活性作用。使用鸡胚致畸性筛选试验（CHEST）评估胚胎毒性，并使用统计分析处理数据。在测试的全粗毒液中，Naja nigricollis 的毒液导致胚胎死亡率最高。所有测试的毒液都在鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜上诱导了血管病变的快速扩散。我们的研究揭示了毒液诱导的鸡胚和绒毛尿囊膜血管网络变化的微观水平过程的详细见解。本文还强调了鸡胚在毒理学和医学研究中的作用越来越重要，以及观察绒毛尿囊膜变化作为 3R 原则相关的适当替代动物模型的重要性。
