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Comparative biochemical studies on sea anemonies (Anemonia sulcata, Metridium senile)
International Society on Toxinology: European Meeting
421
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SEA ANEMONIES
(ANEMONIA SULCATA, METRIDIUM SENILE) GERHARD G. HABIERMEHLand HANS C. KREBS Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technical University, D-6100 Darmstadt, West Germany A mixture of heat stable polypeptides and proteins was extracted from homogenized sea anemomes (Anemonia sulcata and Metridium senile) by using a 50:50 mixture of ethanol/water at 65°C. The crude extract was fractionated by batch wise adsorption on cation exchangers and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and G-25. The isolated and desalinated fractions were compared by their electrophoretical patterns on PAA-gel. All fractions were tested for toxicity on the shore crab, Carcinus maenas. No biochemical and toxicological similarities could be detected between these two species of sea anemonies.
MEDICAL APPLICATION OF ANCROD--DEVELOPMENT, STATUS AND FUTURE ASPECTS K. J. HAHN Department of Clinical Research, Knoll AG, Postfach 210805, D-6700 Ludwigshafen, Fed. Rep. Germany The description of coagulation defects (1963) following bites by the Malayan pit viper led to the isolation of the thrombin like enzyme ancrod from the venom (1967). The enzyme reduces plasma fibrinogen by converting it to a non-cross-linked fibrin which is rapidly split to soluble degradation products. Thus ancrod enables the controlled reduction of plasma fibrinogen. The drug was introduced by Great Britain (1974) with the trade name Arvin@ and in Germany 0975) as Arwin®. The reduction of clotting factor fibrinogen impairs blood coagulation and consequently ancrod was applied as an anticoagulant drug in therapy and prevention of thrombotic diseases. As a macromolecule fibrinogen is a major factor in plasma viscosity. Since its reduction improves blood flow markedly ancrod is successfully used in the treatment of special cases of stable intermittent clandication. The application in other occlusive arterial disease is under study. Defibrination can be used to prevent fibrin formation in vascular surgery. Presently its effect as an adjuvant measure in chemotherapy of malignant tumors is being investigated.
THE BIOELECTRIC R H Y T H M IN G E N E R A L T E T A N U S OF THE RABBIT S. HUCK Department Neuropharmacology, University of Vienna and Brain Research Institute, Austrian Academy Science, Vienna, Austria Rabbits injected with high doses of tetanus toxin develop a bioelectric rhythm in the cerebellum and in the cerebral cortex (HucK et al., Experientia 32, 200, 1976). Rhythmic activity could also be demonstrated in the electrospinogram and by registration of ventral root activity of rabbits anesthetized by chloralose (HucK et al., Pfldigers Arch. Suppl. 168, R 36, 1977). Since all former experiments were performed with immobilized rabbits we studied the cerebellar and neocortical electrical activity with symptoms of general tetanus before and after immobilization. Rabbits were injected with 105 mouse LDso i.v. Registration of neocortical (silver screws) and cerebellar (steel needle electrodes) electrical activity was started approximately 10 hr later with apprehensiveness and increased muscle tone. When the symptoms had advanced to severe spasticity the animals were anesthetized with propanidide, tracheotomized, paralyzed with 3 mg/kg Flaxedil® or 0.8 mg/kg Alloferin® and artificially respirated. The cerebellar and neocortical rhythm became only apparent after the immobilization ; none of the animals showed rhythmic activity prior to the use of the peripheral muscle relaxants. On the other hand the rhythm persisted when the level of relaxation decreased which was indicated by the return of muscular activity. The present experiments suggest that the procedure of immobilization essentially contributes to the generation of rhythmic activity in general tetanus of the rabbit.
421
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SEA ANEMONIES
(ANEMONIA SULCATA, METRIDIUM SENILE) GERHARD G. HABIERMEHLand HANS C. KREBS Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technical University, D-6100 Darmstadt, West Germany A mixture of heat stable polypeptides and proteins was extracted from homogenized sea anemomes (Anemonia sulcata and Metridium senile) by using a 50:50 mixture of ethanol/water at 65°C. The crude extract was fractionated by batch wise adsorption on cation exchangers and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and G-25. The isolated and desalinated fractions were compared by their electrophoretical patterns on PAA-gel. All fractions were tested for toxicity on the shore crab, Carcinus maenas. No biochemical and toxicological similarities could be detected between these two species of sea anemonies.
MEDICAL APPLICATION OF ANCROD--DEVELOPMENT, STATUS AND FUTURE ASPECTS K. J. HAHN Department of Clinical Research, Knoll AG, Postfach 210805, D-6700 Ludwigshafen, Fed. Rep. Germany The description of coagulation defects (1963) following bites by the Malayan pit viper led to the isolation of the thrombin like enzyme ancrod from the venom (1967). The enzyme reduces plasma fibrinogen by converting it to a non-cross-linked fibrin which is rapidly split to soluble degradation products. Thus ancrod enables the controlled reduction of plasma fibrinogen. The drug was introduced by Great Britain (1974) with the trade name Arvin@ and in Germany 0975) as Arwin®. The reduction of clotting factor fibrinogen impairs blood coagulation and consequently ancrod was applied as an anticoagulant drug in therapy and prevention of thrombotic diseases. As a macromolecule fibrinogen is a major factor in plasma viscosity. Since its reduction improves blood flow markedly ancrod is successfully used in the treatment of special cases of stable intermittent clandication. The application in other occlusive arterial disease is under study. Defibrination can be used to prevent fibrin formation in vascular surgery. Presently its effect as an adjuvant measure in chemotherapy of malignant tumors is being investigated.
THE BIOELECTRIC R H Y T H M IN G E N E R A L T E T A N U S OF THE RABBIT S. HUCK Department Neuropharmacology, University of Vienna and Brain Research Institute, Austrian Academy Science, Vienna, Austria Rabbits injected with high doses of tetanus toxin develop a bioelectric rhythm in the cerebellum and in the cerebral cortex (HucK et al., Experientia 32, 200, 1976). Rhythmic activity could also be demonstrated in the electrospinogram and by registration of ventral root activity of rabbits anesthetized by chloralose (HucK et al., Pfldigers Arch. Suppl. 168, R 36, 1977). Since all former experiments were performed with immobilized rabbits we studied the cerebellar and neocortical electrical activity with symptoms of general tetanus before and after immobilization. Rabbits were injected with 105 mouse LDso i.v. Registration of neocortical (silver screws) and cerebellar (steel needle electrodes) electrical activity was started approximately 10 hr later with apprehensiveness and increased muscle tone. When the symptoms had advanced to severe spasticity the animals were anesthetized with propanidide, tracheotomized, paralyzed with 3 mg/kg Flaxedil® or 0.8 mg/kg Alloferin® and artificially respirated. The cerebellar and neocortical rhythm became only apparent after the immobilization ; none of the animals showed rhythmic activity prior to the use of the peripheral muscle relaxants. On the other hand the rhythm persisted when the level of relaxation decreased which was indicated by the return of muscular activity. The present experiments suggest that the procedure of immobilization essentially contributes to the generation of rhythmic activity in general tetanus of the rabbit.