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Starch gel electrophoresis of cobra and rattlesnake venoms
ABSTRACTS
289
Kinins which are present in an active form in wasp and hotaet venom are also discussed. A distinction is made between each kinin present in these venons and synthetic bradykinin (kallidin-9) and kallidin-10. The relative pharmacological potencies of these materials is discussed. Note : A comment in the discussion of this paper (J. Margolis) which indicates that materials of this nature present in plasma are not activated by contact with siliconed containers, but are activated by the addition of minute amounts of silica (1 x 10 -' parts) will be of interest to workers who regularly deal with venom. (See also Menoot.ts, ibid pp. 133-145). J.F.C3. (Poisonous Animals Research Laboratory, Arizona State College, Tempe, Arizona) : Some biochemical and pharmacological characteristip of CuurrtroWes sculptwatus Ewing scorpion venom. Blochem. Pharmacol. (Conf. Issue) 13, 187, 1963. STAHNKE, H. L.
CEIVTRUROIDES sculpturatus Ewing (Buthldat) scorpion venom has proven lethal to human beings in good health up to 16 years of age and to adults aufferIng from hypertension . This venom produces tachycardia, hypertension, skeletal muscle convulsions, excessive salivation, respiratory arrest, visceral hyperemia and gastric hyperdistention. Immunologiwlly it reacts like a polysaccharide and chemical investigations suggest that the toxic factor is either apeptide or a substance closely associated with a peptide. The toxicity of the venom is increased in the presence of morphine sulphate and related compounds. Narcotic antagonists, low temperature stress and epinephrine also increase the toxicity of the venom. Suzuxr, T. and Iw~uv~ae, S. (Faculty of Pharm., Kyoto Univ., Kyoto, Japan) : Studies on snake venom. VIII . Substrate spedficity of L-amino acid oxidase in Mamushi (Agkfstrodon halt's blomho Bî Bote) and Habu (71~imeresurtu oklnavmsls Boulanger) venons . 1. Pharmareutlcal Soc., Japan, 80, 1002, 1960. specificity of Iramino acid oxidase in the venons of Japanese "Mamushi" (Agklstrodon halt's blomho~ and "Habu" (7ilmeresurus okümvensis) was examined with 46 kinds of amino acid. Tho enzymd from these snake venom were stronger thaw that of cobra venom and were especially marked in oxidizing arginine and isoleucine . This specificity to these two amino acids has not been found in any literature, either in Japan or abroad, or in cobra venom. $Ulü4AATE
Te~ru, M. (Dept. Physiol. Chew . Nut., Fac. Med., Univ ., Tokyo) : Effect of snake venom upon membrane adenosine triphosphatase of human erythrocyte. J. Biochem. (Tokyo) S3, 260, 1%3. InrrEC3atzv of the human erythrocyte membrane cation transport system depends upon sodium-potassium dependent, ouabain sensitive adenosine triphosphatase. This enzyme was completely inactivated after treatment of membrane preparations with phospholipase A from the venom of 7lrimeresurus flavlvlridls . Canon independent, ouabain insensitive ATP-ase was practically unaffected by this treatment. A detergent (identified only by brand name) gave a similar result when added to membrane preparations . A lipid component of cell membrane may also be necessary for the cation transport system to function. Vtcx, J. A., Bt~+ntca~en, R. J. and PBARY, J. F., Jr. (Dept. Surg., Ancker Hosp., St. Paul, Minn .) : Effect of epsilon amino caproic acid on pulmonary vascular changas produced by snake venom. Prnc . Soc. F .xper. Blal. and Med., 113, 841, 1%3. Rrsroris~ of isolated perfused canine lungs to venons of Nq/a hannah and Crotalas adamanteus were detenmined. The increase in pulmonary artery pressure, increase in lung weight and occurrence of pulmonary edema produced by these venons was apparently mediated through a heat-labile component of blood. The effects noted wind be distinguished from those produced by the histamine-releaser 48/80 or histamine, and an antihistaminic drug which blocked the effects of histamine did not alter the characteristic responses to venom. Vascular responses to venom were prevented by prior admin,crrntion of epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA) . C. adamanteus venom produces clotting in addition to the above actions, but EACA did not prevent this action . P.R .S .
289
Kinins which are present in an active form in wasp and hotaet venom are also discussed. A distinction is made between each kinin present in these venons and synthetic bradykinin (kallidin-9) and kallidin-10. The relative pharmacological potencies of these materials is discussed. Note : A comment in the discussion of this paper (J. Margolis) which indicates that materials of this nature present in plasma are not activated by contact with siliconed containers, but are activated by the addition of minute amounts of silica (1 x 10 -' parts) will be of interest to workers who regularly deal with venom. (See also Menoot.ts, ibid pp. 133-145). J.F.C3. (Poisonous Animals Research Laboratory, Arizona State College, Tempe, Arizona) : Some biochemical and pharmacological characteristip of CuurrtroWes sculptwatus Ewing scorpion venom. Blochem. Pharmacol. (Conf. Issue) 13, 187, 1963. STAHNKE, H. L.
CEIVTRUROIDES sculpturatus Ewing (Buthldat) scorpion venom has proven lethal to human beings in good health up to 16 years of age and to adults aufferIng from hypertension . This venom produces tachycardia, hypertension, skeletal muscle convulsions, excessive salivation, respiratory arrest, visceral hyperemia and gastric hyperdistention. Immunologiwlly it reacts like a polysaccharide and chemical investigations suggest that the toxic factor is either apeptide or a substance closely associated with a peptide. The toxicity of the venom is increased in the presence of morphine sulphate and related compounds. Narcotic antagonists, low temperature stress and epinephrine also increase the toxicity of the venom. Suzuxr, T. and Iw~uv~ae, S. (Faculty of Pharm., Kyoto Univ., Kyoto, Japan) : Studies on snake venom. VIII . Substrate spedficity of L-amino acid oxidase in Mamushi (Agkfstrodon halt's blomho Bî Bote) and Habu (71~imeresurtu oklnavmsls Boulanger) venons . 1. Pharmareutlcal Soc., Japan, 80, 1002, 1960. specificity of Iramino acid oxidase in the venons of Japanese "Mamushi" (Agklstrodon halt's blomho~ and "Habu" (7ilmeresurus okümvensis) was examined with 46 kinds of amino acid. Tho enzymd from these snake venom were stronger thaw that of cobra venom and were especially marked in oxidizing arginine and isoleucine . This specificity to these two amino acids has not been found in any literature, either in Japan or abroad, or in cobra venom. $Ulü4AATE
Te~ru, M. (Dept. Physiol. Chew . Nut., Fac. Med., Univ ., Tokyo) : Effect of snake venom upon membrane adenosine triphosphatase of human erythrocyte. J. Biochem. (Tokyo) S3, 260, 1%3. InrrEC3atzv of the human erythrocyte membrane cation transport system depends upon sodium-potassium dependent, ouabain sensitive adenosine triphosphatase. This enzyme was completely inactivated after treatment of membrane preparations with phospholipase A from the venom of 7lrimeresurus flavlvlridls . Canon independent, ouabain insensitive ATP-ase was practically unaffected by this treatment. A detergent (identified only by brand name) gave a similar result when added to membrane preparations . A lipid component of cell membrane may also be necessary for the cation transport system to function. Vtcx, J. A., Bt~+ntca~en, R. J. and PBARY, J. F., Jr. (Dept. Surg., Ancker Hosp., St. Paul, Minn .) : Effect of epsilon amino caproic acid on pulmonary vascular changas produced by snake venom. Prnc . Soc. F .xper. Blal. and Med., 113, 841, 1%3. Rrsroris~ of isolated perfused canine lungs to venons of Nq/a hannah and Crotalas adamanteus were detenmined. The increase in pulmonary artery pressure, increase in lung weight and occurrence of pulmonary edema produced by these venons was apparently mediated through a heat-labile component of blood. The effects noted wind be distinguished from those produced by the histamine-releaser 48/80 or histamine, and an antihistaminic drug which blocked the effects of histamine did not alter the characteristic responses to venom. Vascular responses to venom were prevented by prior admin,crrntion of epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA) . C. adamanteus venom produces clotting in addition to the above actions, but EACA did not prevent this action . P.R .S .