Boevé J L, Kuhn-Nentwig L, Keller S, Nentwig W
Zoologisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland.
Toxicon. 1995 Oct;33(10):1347-57. doi: 10.1016/0041-0101(95)00066-u.
The amount of venom injected by the spider Cupiennius salei depended on the efficiency of the mechanical defence of the prey species. Spiders were milked for the first venom (i.e. the first microlitre of venom emitted) versus remaining venom, and for venom regenerated from emptied glands. HPLC gel filtration and IEF electrophoresis showed that the protein content of the first venom was only half as compared to that of the remaining venom, and that this was due to a dilution of all proteins. Venom regeneration came in two speeds. The amount of venom was regenerated more rapidly than the protein concentration. Newly regenerated venom as compared to older venom was characterized by a lower concentration of all proteins and by a higher total concentration of free amino acids, whereas histamine and taurine did not follow this trend. K+ concentration and pH remained similar during venom regeneration. Crickets injected with the venoms showed less acute symptoms when the protein concentration was lower, namely with the first venom and with newly regenerated venom. Consequently, a spider which modulates the quantity of venom injected into a prey also directly changes the venom quality. The ecological consequences of this are discussed. This paper also discusses which region of a gland (ampulla, extracellular and intracellular parts of the glandular sac) is involved in the changes of the venom quality.
蜘蛛Cupiennius salei注入的毒液量取决于猎物物种机械防御的效率。采集蜘蛛的首次毒液（即排出的第一微升毒液）与剩余毒液，以及从排空腺体中再生的毒液。高效液相色谱凝胶过滤和等电聚焦电泳显示，首次毒液的蛋白质含量仅为剩余毒液的一半，这是由于所有蛋白质都被稀释了。毒液再生有两种速度。毒液量的再生速度比蛋白质浓度快。与较老的毒液相比，新再生的毒液的特点是所有蛋白质的浓度较低，游离氨基酸的总浓度较高，而组胺和牛磺酸则不遵循这一趋势。毒液再生过程中钾离子浓度和pH值保持相似。注射毒液的蟋蟀在蛋白质浓度较低时，即注射首次毒液和新再生的毒液时，表现出的急性症状较少。因此，调节注入猎物体内毒液量的蜘蛛也会直接改变毒液质量。本文讨论了这一现象的生态后果。本文还讨论了腺体的哪个区域（壶腹、腺囊的细胞外和细胞内部分）与毒液质量的变化有关。
