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Comparative studies of Iranian snake venoms by gel diffusion and neutralization tests
530
INTERNATIONAL SOC. OF TOXINOLOGY, 1972 GENERAL MEETING
M . LATIFI and R . FARZANPAY. (Herpetology and Antivenines Department, Razi Institute, Teheran, Iran) . Comparative studies of Iranian snake venoms by gel diffusion and neutralization tests . Six venoms of Naja naja, Vipera lat(fri, Vipera lebetim, Vipera persica (Pseudocerastes persicus), Echis carinatus and Agkistrodon halys with different Low values were prepared . Specific antivenins, prepared in horses against each venom, were used for in vivo and in vitro tests in this work . The antigenic fractions of the venoms were demonstrated by simplified gel diffusion method. No significant similarities were observed between the components of these venoms, when they were tested against homologous and heterologous antivenins .
C . Y. LEE, M . C . HUANG and C. A. BoNiLLA.* (Pharmacological Institute, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, China and *Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S .A .) . Mode of action of purified basic proteins from three rattlesnake venoms on neuromuscular junctions of the chick biventer cervicis muscle. The mode of action of three basic proteins isolated from the venoms of Crotalus adamanteus (CA), C. horridus horridus (CHH) and C. viridis viridis (CVV), (BoNar.A et al., 1972 ; BoNn i w and Fmto, 1971) respectively, on neuromuscular junctions was studied by using the chick biventer oervicis nerve-muscle preparation (GnvseoRG and WARRiNM 1960) . All three toxins not only augmented the indirectly elicited contraction, but also caused repetitive spontaneous twitchings, followed by depression in concentrations of 1-2 x 10- + g/ml and greater . These stimulatory effects were completely abolished and prevented by n-tubocurarine (3 x 10- ' g/ml), high (12 mM) and low (0-1 mM) Ca'+, and high (10 mM) Mg'+ . After washing, the stimulatory effects reappeared, suggesting the irreversible nature of toxin binding. Since the stimulatory effects were also abolished and prevented by ß-bungarotoxin (CHANG and LEE, 1963 ; LEE and CHANG, 1966) without affecting the sensitivity of motor endplate to acetylcholine, it is concluded that the site of action of these toxins on the chick muscle is presynaptic, probably on the nerve terminals. REFERENCES BONni.A, C . A., Fmzo, M . K . and FRANK, L . P . (1972) In Toxins of Animal and Plant Origin, editors DE VRn!s, A. and KocHvA, E ., Gordon & Breach, New York and London. Bonau, C . A. and FmRo, M . K. (1971)1. Chromatogr. 56,253. GnanoRD, B . L . and WARRUNER, J. (1960)1. Brit. J. Pharmacol.15, 410 . CHANG, C. C. and LEE, C . Y. (1963) Arch. int. Pharnutcodyn.144,241 . LEE, C. Y. and CHANG, C. C . (1966) Mem. Inst. Butantan, Simp . Internat. 33(2), 555 .
Z . MARETit4 and J . LADAVAC . (Medicinski Centar, Pula, Yugoslavia) . The question of toxicity of the bite of moray eel, Muraena helena. The toxicity of the bite of the moray eel has been a subject of controversy for many years . Some reputable authors considered Muraena helena to be a venomous animal with a true venom apparatus, so that even today one can find in the literature transcribed data according to which the moray eel is classified in this way. In 1956, Halstead and Teel proved by histological studies that Muraena hekna does not have a hollow tooth ; nor could they find any venomous glands and excretory ducts . Histological examinations performed by the authors did not reveal anything similar to a venom apparatus in the moray eel. Also, bites of freshly caught moray eels showed a strong traumatic effect, but not a toxic one, in guinea pigs . Six patients bitten by moray eels showed effects of mechanical injuries rather than of envenomation . The authors are of the opinion that the practical importance of the bite of the moray eel as a danger for man consists of its aggressiveness and potent jaws. Although Muraena helena does not have a venom apparatus, further investigations on the secretion of its palatal mucosa, considered by some authors as toxic, are necessary . Investigations to date have been performed on Muraena kelena only; to extend these studies to other kinds of moray eels would also be of interest . 9OXICON 1972 VoL 10.
INTERNATIONAL SOC. OF TOXINOLOGY, 1972 GENERAL MEETING
M . LATIFI and R . FARZANPAY. (Herpetology and Antivenines Department, Razi Institute, Teheran, Iran) . Comparative studies of Iranian snake venoms by gel diffusion and neutralization tests . Six venoms of Naja naja, Vipera lat(fri, Vipera lebetim, Vipera persica (Pseudocerastes persicus), Echis carinatus and Agkistrodon halys with different Low values were prepared . Specific antivenins, prepared in horses against each venom, were used for in vivo and in vitro tests in this work . The antigenic fractions of the venoms were demonstrated by simplified gel diffusion method. No significant similarities were observed between the components of these venoms, when they were tested against homologous and heterologous antivenins .
C . Y. LEE, M . C . HUANG and C. A. BoNiLLA.* (Pharmacological Institute, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, China and *Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S .A .) . Mode of action of purified basic proteins from three rattlesnake venoms on neuromuscular junctions of the chick biventer cervicis muscle. The mode of action of three basic proteins isolated from the venoms of Crotalus adamanteus (CA), C. horridus horridus (CHH) and C. viridis viridis (CVV), (BoNar.A et al., 1972 ; BoNn i w and Fmto, 1971) respectively, on neuromuscular junctions was studied by using the chick biventer oervicis nerve-muscle preparation (GnvseoRG and WARRiNM 1960) . All three toxins not only augmented the indirectly elicited contraction, but also caused repetitive spontaneous twitchings, followed by depression in concentrations of 1-2 x 10- + g/ml and greater . These stimulatory effects were completely abolished and prevented by n-tubocurarine (3 x 10- ' g/ml), high (12 mM) and low (0-1 mM) Ca'+, and high (10 mM) Mg'+ . After washing, the stimulatory effects reappeared, suggesting the irreversible nature of toxin binding. Since the stimulatory effects were also abolished and prevented by ß-bungarotoxin (CHANG and LEE, 1963 ; LEE and CHANG, 1966) without affecting the sensitivity of motor endplate to acetylcholine, it is concluded that the site of action of these toxins on the chick muscle is presynaptic, probably on the nerve terminals. REFERENCES BONni.A, C . A., Fmzo, M . K . and FRANK, L . P . (1972) In Toxins of Animal and Plant Origin, editors DE VRn!s, A. and KocHvA, E ., Gordon & Breach, New York and London. Bonau, C . A. and FmRo, M . K. (1971)1. Chromatogr. 56,253. GnanoRD, B . L . and WARRUNER, J. (1960)1. Brit. J. Pharmacol.15, 410 . CHANG, C. C. and LEE, C . Y. (1963) Arch. int. Pharnutcodyn.144,241 . LEE, C. Y. and CHANG, C. C . (1966) Mem. Inst. Butantan, Simp . Internat. 33(2), 555 .
Z . MARETit4 and J . LADAVAC . (Medicinski Centar, Pula, Yugoslavia) . The question of toxicity of the bite of moray eel, Muraena helena. The toxicity of the bite of the moray eel has been a subject of controversy for many years . Some reputable authors considered Muraena helena to be a venomous animal with a true venom apparatus, so that even today one can find in the literature transcribed data according to which the moray eel is classified in this way. In 1956, Halstead and Teel proved by histological studies that Muraena hekna does not have a hollow tooth ; nor could they find any venomous glands and excretory ducts . Histological examinations performed by the authors did not reveal anything similar to a venom apparatus in the moray eel. Also, bites of freshly caught moray eels showed a strong traumatic effect, but not a toxic one, in guinea pigs . Six patients bitten by moray eels showed effects of mechanical injuries rather than of envenomation . The authors are of the opinion that the practical importance of the bite of the moray eel as a danger for man consists of its aggressiveness and potent jaws. Although Muraena helena does not have a venom apparatus, further investigations on the secretion of its palatal mucosa, considered by some authors as toxic, are necessary . Investigations to date have been performed on Muraena kelena only; to extend these studies to other kinds of moray eels would also be of interest . 9OXICON 1972 VoL 10.