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Individual variability of Echis carinatus venoms from Mali
366
7th European Symposium
proteolytic inhibitory activity was detected in the crude extracts of the three sea anemones . These polypeptides were purified by affinity chromatography using activated trypsin immobilized on CNBr-Sepharose. Three proteinase inhibitors were obtained by this method ; one of them inhibits not only serine dependent proteinases like trypsin, but also thiolic and carboxylic dependent protemases like, bromeline and pepsin . Viper bites in the French district of Yonne. J. P. CHIppAtnc,' D. BRY' and M. GoymW ('ORSTOM, BP 390. Cotonou, Benin, 'Hôpital d'Avallon, 89 Avallon, France, and 'CRSSA/LERAI, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France). THE AuTHoas made an epidemiological survey of snake bites in the French district of Yonne. Annual incidence is about 6 bites per 100,000 people . Important variations are noted: 2 bites a year per 100,000 people in the north of the district ; nearly 15 bites a year per 100,000 people in the south. 137 bites had been notified by practitioners during thelast 10 years and 29 bites have been received in hospital emergency wards during the last 5 years. Twenty-five per cent of all victims remained in hospital 2 days or more . The authors emphasize the methodological aspects of epidemiological survey devoted to snake bites in developed countries. It appears necessary to associate a hospital survey with a poll of the rural physician population . This could be done by phone (9294 response) or by mail (twice as cheap, but 6754 response). Individual variability of Echis carinates venoms from Mali. Z. ERsANovA, O. HNILICxovA and F. KORNALiK (Institute of Pathophysiology, Charles University, Prague, C.S .S.R .) . VENOIds from 45 specimen of Echis carinatus of both sexes and roughly the same age, originating from a small district in Mali, were separately milked twice in a period of 4 weeks. The two venom samples from each snake were lyophilized and analysed. A screening test on their coagulant activity in vitro showed a significant individual variability. The venoms could be divided into three categories : strong, middle and weak . Thin of each category were selected for further analyses . In vitro procoagulant activity assayed by two methods gave comparable results . Analysis of the second milking does not correspond, however, entirely with the results obtained from the first venom extraction. Anticoagulant activity was assayed in vitro on mice, whole blood clotting test, and on rats, relation between fibrinogen digested and the amount of venom injected . There is a considerable difference between the two test methods in the real values, as well as in the sequence of venoms . Anticoagulant effect assayed on mice does not correspond to theprocoagulant activity in vitro and is different using samples from the first and second milking. Defibrinating dose assayed on rats corresponds more to the in vitro procoagulant activity of the venoms . Some pharmacological properties of muramyl dipeptide. H. FARoHALI and K. MASER (Institute of Pharmacology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, C.S .S .R .). THE ESSENTIAL minimal structure of the peptidoglycan of bacterial cell wall for adjuvant activity, muramyl dipeptide (MDP), possesses a number of pharmacological effects . Besides the immunomodulatory and pyrogenic effects, its somnogenic activity was studied. Effects on SWS and REM are dose-dependent in rats and could be antagonistic. MDP in high dose (1 mg/kg) proved to have antinociceptive effect in rats using hot plate and writhing tests. The same dose markedly decreased blood pressure in anaesthesized animals. Most of the aforementioned effects are expected to be mediated through serotoninergic structures . MDP and some analogs were found to possess a protective effect against hepatotoxins, as has been studied in vitro with isolated hepatocytes measuring cell viability, as well as in vivo, where the level of LD, AST and ALT was estimated . MDP also altered the distribution kinetics of methotrexate and cyclophosphamide in mice . Histochemical and biochemical findings suggest that the last effects of MDP might be related to its activity on cell membranes. The effect of Cerastes vipers venom on the clotting mechanism of rats. M. M. FAT-HALLA,' N. E. EL-TouxHV,'
A. TAHA,', A. A. ARMED, A. M. SALEM and A. H. ARMED' ('Department of Physiol., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha, Zagazig University, and 'Venom Research Centre, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt) .
LETHAL and sublethal doses of the Cerastes vipers venom (0.3 and 0.1 mg per 100gm body wt) were injected i.p . into white rats . We aimed to clarify the influence of the venom on some clotting parameters . The lethal dose resulted in a significant decrease in the plasma recalcification time and fibrinogen content at 10 min postinjection, while the thrombin time was increased. However, at 30 min post-injection fibrin degradation product began to appear in the serum. This effect disappeared with heparin pretreatment . It could be concluded that the venom seems to act in two directions . The first initiating effect, which was rapid and transient, was hypereoagulation, followed by a retarding and inhibiting effect on coagulation .
7th European Symposium
proteolytic inhibitory activity was detected in the crude extracts of the three sea anemones . These polypeptides were purified by affinity chromatography using activated trypsin immobilized on CNBr-Sepharose. Three proteinase inhibitors were obtained by this method ; one of them inhibits not only serine dependent proteinases like trypsin, but also thiolic and carboxylic dependent protemases like, bromeline and pepsin . Viper bites in the French district of Yonne. J. P. CHIppAtnc,' D. BRY' and M. GoymW ('ORSTOM, BP 390. Cotonou, Benin, 'Hôpital d'Avallon, 89 Avallon, France, and 'CRSSA/LERAI, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France). THE AuTHoas made an epidemiological survey of snake bites in the French district of Yonne. Annual incidence is about 6 bites per 100,000 people . Important variations are noted: 2 bites a year per 100,000 people in the north of the district ; nearly 15 bites a year per 100,000 people in the south. 137 bites had been notified by practitioners during thelast 10 years and 29 bites have been received in hospital emergency wards during the last 5 years. Twenty-five per cent of all victims remained in hospital 2 days or more . The authors emphasize the methodological aspects of epidemiological survey devoted to snake bites in developed countries. It appears necessary to associate a hospital survey with a poll of the rural physician population . This could be done by phone (9294 response) or by mail (twice as cheap, but 6754 response). Individual variability of Echis carinates venoms from Mali. Z. ERsANovA, O. HNILICxovA and F. KORNALiK (Institute of Pathophysiology, Charles University, Prague, C.S .S.R .) . VENOIds from 45 specimen of Echis carinatus of both sexes and roughly the same age, originating from a small district in Mali, were separately milked twice in a period of 4 weeks. The two venom samples from each snake were lyophilized and analysed. A screening test on their coagulant activity in vitro showed a significant individual variability. The venoms could be divided into three categories : strong, middle and weak . Thin of each category were selected for further analyses . In vitro procoagulant activity assayed by two methods gave comparable results . Analysis of the second milking does not correspond, however, entirely with the results obtained from the first venom extraction. Anticoagulant activity was assayed in vitro on mice, whole blood clotting test, and on rats, relation between fibrinogen digested and the amount of venom injected . There is a considerable difference between the two test methods in the real values, as well as in the sequence of venoms . Anticoagulant effect assayed on mice does not correspond to theprocoagulant activity in vitro and is different using samples from the first and second milking. Defibrinating dose assayed on rats corresponds more to the in vitro procoagulant activity of the venoms . Some pharmacological properties of muramyl dipeptide. H. FARoHALI and K. MASER (Institute of Pharmacology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, C.S .S .R .). THE ESSENTIAL minimal structure of the peptidoglycan of bacterial cell wall for adjuvant activity, muramyl dipeptide (MDP), possesses a number of pharmacological effects . Besides the immunomodulatory and pyrogenic effects, its somnogenic activity was studied. Effects on SWS and REM are dose-dependent in rats and could be antagonistic. MDP in high dose (1 mg/kg) proved to have antinociceptive effect in rats using hot plate and writhing tests. The same dose markedly decreased blood pressure in anaesthesized animals. Most of the aforementioned effects are expected to be mediated through serotoninergic structures . MDP and some analogs were found to possess a protective effect against hepatotoxins, as has been studied in vitro with isolated hepatocytes measuring cell viability, as well as in vivo, where the level of LD, AST and ALT was estimated . MDP also altered the distribution kinetics of methotrexate and cyclophosphamide in mice . Histochemical and biochemical findings suggest that the last effects of MDP might be related to its activity on cell membranes. The effect of Cerastes vipers venom on the clotting mechanism of rats. M. M. FAT-HALLA,' N. E. EL-TouxHV,'
A. TAHA,', A. A. ARMED, A. M. SALEM and A. H. ARMED' ('Department of Physiol., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha, Zagazig University, and 'Venom Research Centre, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt) .
LETHAL and sublethal doses of the Cerastes vipers venom (0.3 and 0.1 mg per 100gm body wt) were injected i.p . into white rats . We aimed to clarify the influence of the venom on some clotting parameters . The lethal dose resulted in a significant decrease in the plasma recalcification time and fibrinogen content at 10 min postinjection, while the thrombin time was increased. However, at 30 min post-injection fibrin degradation product began to appear in the serum. This effect disappeared with heparin pretreatment . It could be concluded that the venom seems to act in two directions . The first initiating effect, which was rapid and transient, was hypereoagulation, followed by a retarding and inhibiting effect on coagulation .