RESUMO
Amphibian skin secretions contain several bioactive compounds such as biogenic amines, alkaloids, steroids, proteins and peptides; being peptides a continuously growing field of interest. This work aims to describe the main physiopathological properties of the tree frog Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis skin secretion, obtained by manual stimulation of the dorsal skin surface. Intravenous skin secretion administration provoked lethal effect in mice after 5min. Low doses induced significant systemic and local effects like edema and nociception in mice and topic administration induced myonecrosis in the endothelium of cremaster mice. The presence of phospholipase A(2) activity, proteolytic activity and creatine kinase activity (in the plasma of treated mice) are reported and are very likely to be related to the physiopathological (edematic and myotoxic) activities observed. These data provide in vivo evidence of the complex toxic effects of the P. hypochondrialis skin secretion as well as possible mechanisms of action for these effects.