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Peptidase activities in the semen from the ductus deferens and uterus of the neotropical rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus

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Abstract

To understand the role of peptidases in seminal physiology of Crotalus durissus terrificus, intra- and inter-seasonal activity levels of acid (APA), basic (APB), puromycin-sensitive (APN-PS) and puromycin-insensitive neutral (APN-PI), cystyl (CAP), dipeptidyl-IV (DPPIV), type-1 pyroglutamyl (PAP-I) and prolyl-imino (PIP) aminopeptidases as well as prolyl endopeptidase (POP) were evaluated in soluble (SF) and/or membrane-bound (MF) fractions of semen collected from the ductus deferens of the male reproductive tract and from the posterior portion of the uterus. Seminal APB, PIP and POP were detected in SF, while other peptidases were detected in SF and MF. Only the convoluted posterior uterus in winter and autumn had semen. Relative to other examined peptidases, in general, APN-PI, APN-PS and APB activities were predominant in the semen from the uterus and throughout the year in the semen from the ductus deferens, suggesting their great relevance in the seminal physiology of C. d. terrificus. The levels of peptidase activities in the ductus deferens semen varied seasonally and were different from those of semen in the uterus, suggesting that their modulatory actions on susceptible peptides are integrated to the male reproductive cycle events and spermatozoa viability of this snake.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Valdir José Germano for his efficient technical assistance. This investigation was supported by a Research Grant 04/14971-9 from FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil). C.E.M. (05/03745-0) and S.C.Y. (07/06829-6) were sponsored by FAPESP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Pharmacology, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil

    Camila Eduardo Marinho, Simone Cristina Yamasaki & Paulo Flavio Silveira

  2. Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil

    Selma Maria Almeida Santos

  3. Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Camila Eduardo Marinho

Authors
  1. Camila Eduardo Marinho
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  2. Selma Maria Almeida Santos
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  3. Simone Cristina Yamasaki
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  4. Paulo Flavio Silveira
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Correspondence to Paulo Flavio Silveira.

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Communicated by I. D. Hume.

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Marinho, C.E., Almeida Santos, S.M., Yamasaki, S.C. et al. Peptidase activities in the semen from the ductus deferens and uterus of the neotropical rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus . J Comp Physiol B 179, 635–642 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-009-0345-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-009-0345-5

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