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Immunochemical detection of purified crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in the motor end plate of striated muscle in CBA/J mice.

Electrophysiological studies of crotoxin, a potent neurotoxic fraction from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, have shown a pre- and post-synaptic action. In order to determine the specific site of this activity, we performed an immunohistochemical analysis on striated muscle from CBA/J mice, injected with crotoxin (5 LD50), iv, using a single-step immunoperoxidase assay with peroxidase-conjugated antibodies to whole venom. Control muscle and muscle obtained from treated animals 15 min after injection showed no staining. However, 30 min after injection, the neuromuscular motor end plate of mice who received crotoxin was clearly stained, including thin terminations, without any morphological alteration. Sixty min after administration, the motor end plate was no longer intact, but only roughly formed stained areas without clearly identifiable structures were present. These data show specific crotoxin binding to neural end plates in striated muscle, with a subsequent toxin-induced degeneration of this structure.