Snakes secretions, effects

Venoms are usually protein molecules secreted by different animals from vertebrate and invertebrate species, including snakes, amphibians, bees, arthropods, fish, and gastropods. Under this definition are toxic products with different structures, most of them protein molecules with enzymatic effects, such as the snake-secreted toxins or ion channels modulators, the conotoxins produced by gastropods, while others are alkaloids with similar structure and effect as marine toxins, as is the case of batrachotoxin secreted by frogs. In this family of compounds is also included the tetrodotoxin (TTX) group, a potent neurotoxin found in puffer and tetraodontiforme fish and... 

I various subcellular locations within eukaryotic cells. Some of these enzymes are specific for particular polar head-groups others are nonspecific. Phospholipase A2 is a major component of snake venom (cobra and rattlesnake) and is partially involved in the deadly effects of these venoms. Because of the high concentration of phospholipase A2 in these venoms, this enzyme has been studied intensively. The pancreas is also rich in phospholipase A2, which is secreted into the intestine for digestion of dietary phospholipids. 

THE EFFECTS OF CLOACAE SECRETIONS ON BROWN TREE SNAKE BEHAVIOR... 

We tested the effects of cloacal secretions that had been aged in a sealed vial on brown tree snakes. Our bioassay measured changes in locomotion, avoidance behavior and the expression of defensive behaviors in response to touch stimuli. A blank control, freshly collected cloacal secretions and aged cloacal secretions were the stimuli used in the study. An applied aim of this study was to investigate chemical cues that might be of use in controlling the brown tree snake in its introduced habitat (Mason and Greene,... 

In conclusion, cloacal secretions have the following behavioral effects on brown tree snakes I) they act as a pheromone that inhibits male courtship behavior, and 2) when aged, they act as a chemical signal and/or chemical irritant that that elicits defensive behaviors from the snakes. Our results represent a significant part of only a small handful of studies that have empirically demonstrated behavioral effects of cloacal secretions, despite the attention they have historically received in the literature (Mason, 1992). The data also demonstrate the effects of volatile chemical signals on snake behavior the effects of non-volatile signals on snake behavior have been more commonly studied (Mason, 1992). 

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