What is snake venom made of?
Snake venom is a highly-mofified saliva produced by specialized glands, called “venom glands.” Venom consists of complex mixtures of many toxins and enzymes which effectively immobilize prey and assist in digestion. All snake venoms have one or more of the following components: hemotoxins (including hemorrhagins and hemolysins), myotoxins, and neurotoxins. Enzymes in snake venom include Amino acide oxidases and proteases, Hyaluronidase, Phosphodiesterase and ATPases.
- Hemotoxins primarily attacks the blood by destroying red blood cells and preventing coagulation while at the same time aggressively destroying its victim’s blood vessels.
- Myotoxins lead to severe muscle necrosis (death of cells and living tissue in the muscles). Myotoxins act very quickly, causing instantenous paralysis, to prevent prey from escaping, and eventual death due to diaphragmactic paralysis (paralysis of the diaphragm)–the diaphragm is crucial for drawing air into the lungs.
- Neurotoxins attacks the nervous system, causing massive respiratory malfunctions, heart failure and even paralysis. These symptoms are also normally accompanied by blurred vision, dry mouth, a metal taste and dizziness.
- Phosphodiesterases are used to interfere with the prey’s cardiac system, mainly to lower the blood pressure.
- Hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability which increases the rate that venom is absorbed into the prey’s tissues.
- Amino acid oxidases and proteases help the snake digest its prey. It also causes the venom of some species to be yellow.
- ATPases are used for breaking down ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) to disrupt the prey’s energy fuel use.