Homogenates of skeletal muscle injected with snake venom inhibit myogenic differentiation in cell culture.

Introduction: Viperid snakebite envenomings are characterized by muscle necrosis and a deficient regenerative response.

Methods: Homogenates from gastrocnemius muscles of mice injected with the venom of the snake Bothrops asper or with 2 tissue-damaging toxins were added to cultures of C2C12 myogenic cells. Myoblasts proliferation and fusion were assessed.