Habu snakes (Protobothrops flavoviridis) show variation in thoracic aortic vasoreactivity between adjacent Japanese islands

Habu snakes (Protobothrops flavoviridis) from adjacent Japanese islands exhibit significant variation in thoracic aortic vasoreactivity. Researchers found that Tokunoshima Habu display stronger contractile responses to angiotensin II, acetylcholine, and noradrenaline compared to Amami-Oshima Habu, with higher affinities for the first two substances—a previously unreported response to acetylcholine in snakes. This suggests intraspecific physiological divergence potentially driven by ecological differences between the islands. The study employed isolated aorta experiments to assess vasoreactivity, providing insights into how local environmental factors may influence snake physiology.

OOTAWA, T., WU, S., SEKIO, R., SMITH, H., ISLAM, M. Z., NGUYEN, H. T. T., UNO, Y., SHIRAISHI, M., & MIYAMOTO, A. (2024). Habu snakes (Protobothrops flavoviridis) show variation in thoracic aortic vasoreactivity between adjacent Japanese islands. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 86(2), 202–206. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.23-0361