South american rattlesnake venom: its hemolytic power

Lima, Édimo Garcia de; Costa, Paulo Inácio da; Laure, Carlos Julio

doi:10.1590/S0037-86821989000400002

Abstracts

The hemolytic power of rattlesnake venom (Crotalus durissus terrificus) was Studied. A high percentage of sample with negative hemolytic power was detected when sheep red blood cells were used. A large number of venoms with hemolytic power, though with a low hemolysis percentage, were detected when liquid, recently extracted venom was used. When crystallized venom was used under the same experimental conditions, a higher percentage ofpositivityfor hemolysis was obtained. When the results obtained on agar plates were compared to those obtained in test tubes, a large number of animals with a higher percentage of hemolysis were detected, though this value was not proportional to the number of animals showing positive plate hemolysis. When the hemolytic power of these venoms was tested on human red blood cells, a large percentage of animals with venoms having a low hemolytic power was also detected. Hemolytic power was much greater when human red blood cells were tested with crystallized venom. The preparation of red blood cells also had an important effect and the use of red blood cells from defibrinated blood is recommended. We conclude that rattlesnake venom has hemolytic power that increases when the venom is crystallized. Red blood cells should be properly preparedfor the lysis reactions. We suggest that the lytic power of the venom is related to venom concentration and to the purity of its fractions.

Rattlesnake venom; Hemolytic power

Foi estudado o poder hemolitico do veneno da cascavel (Crotalus durissus terrificus). Encontrou-se grande número de suas frações sem capacidade de hemolisar eritrócitos de carneiro. O veneno "in natura", recentemente extraído, e em estado líquido tem pouca atividade litica. A cristalização do veneno aumenta sua concentração e poder lítico. Os resultados de hemólise do sangue de carneiro obtidos em placas e tubos foram comparados evidenciando um grande número de animais com venenos com alto poder hemolítico. Os valores não foram proporcionais quando os mesmos venenos foram examinados com hemáceas de homem. Neste caso os percentuais de hemólise foram mais baixos. Pode-se verificar que o poder hemolítico do veneno se relaciona com a concentração e pureza de suas frações.

Veneno de cascavel; Poder hemolítico

ARTICLES

South american rattlesnake venom: its hemolytic power

Édimo Garcia de Lima^I; Paulo Inácio da Costa^I; Carlos Julio Laure^II

^IDepartment of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology

^IIDepartment of Biochemistry

^{Adress to correspondence} Adress to correspondence: Dr. Edimo Garcia de Lima Faculty of medicine of Ribeirão Preto/USP. 14049 Ribeirão Preto, SP. Brasil.

ABSTRACT

The hemolytic power of rattlesnake venom (Crotalus durissus terrificus) was Studied. A high percentage of sample with negative hemolytic power was detected when sheep red blood cells were used. A large number of venoms with hemolytic power, though with a low hemolysis percentage, were detected when liquid, recently extracted venom was used. When crystallized venom was used under the same experimental conditions, a higher percentage ofpositivityfor hemolysis was obtained. When the results obtained on agar plates were compared to those obtained in test tubes, a large number of animals with a higher percentage of hemolysis were detected, though this value was not proportional to the number of animals showing positive plate hemolysis. When the hemolytic power of these venoms was tested on human red blood cells, a large percentage of animals with venoms having a low hemolytic power was also detected. Hemolytic power was much greater when human red blood cells were tested with crystallized venom. The preparation of red blood cells also had an important effect and the use of red blood cells from defibrinated blood is recommended. We conclude that rattlesnake venom has hemolytic power that increases when the venom is crystallized. Red blood cells should be properly preparedfor the lysis reactions. We suggest that the lytic power of the venom is related to venom concentration and to the purity of its fractions.

Keywords: Rattlesnake venom. Hemolytic power.

RESUMO

Foi estudado o poder hemolitico do veneno da cascavel (Crotalus durissus terrificus). Encontrou-se grande número de suas frações sem capacidade de hemolisar eritrócitos de carneiro. O veneno "in natura", recentemente extraído, e em estado líquido tem pouca atividade litica. A cristalização do veneno aumenta sua concentração e poder lítico. Os resultados de hemólise do sangue de carneiro obtidos em placas e tubos foram comparados evidenciando um grande número de animais com venenos com alto poder hemolítico. Os valores não foram proporcionais quando os mesmos venenos foram examinados com hemáceas de homem. Neste caso os percentuais de hemólise foram mais baixos. Pode-se verificar que o poder hemolítico do veneno se relaciona com a concentração e pureza de suas frações.

Palavras-chave: Veneno de cascavel. Poder hemolítico.

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Recebido para publicação em 15/06/89.

1. Conti MAB. Estrutura primária da cadeia B da Crotapotina. Tese de Doutorado. Faculdade Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 1986.
2. Gabilan NH. Estrutura primária da cadeia C da Crotapotina. Tese de Doutourado. Faculdade Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 1984.
3. Garcia-Lima E, Laure CJA. Study of bacterial contamination of rattlesnake venom. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 20: 19-21, 1987.
4. Goucher CR, Flowers HH. The chemical modification of neurogenic and proteolytic activities of venom and the use of EDTA to produce Agkistrodum piscivorus venom toxoid. Toxicon 2: 139-147, 1964.
5. Grotto L, Moroz C, DeVries A, Goldblum N. Isolation of vipera palestinae hemorrhagin and distinction between its hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 133: 356-362, 1967.
6.Habermann E. Bee and wasp venoms. Science 177: 314-322, 1972.
7. Houssay BA. Classification des actions de venins de serpents sur l'organismes animal. Comptes Rendus des Séances de la Société de Biologie 105: 308-310, 1930.
8. Huang SY, Perez JC. Comparative study on hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities of snake venoms. Toxicon 18: 421-426, 1980.
9. Kelen EMA, Rosenfeld G, Nudel F. Hemolytic activity of animal venoms. II. Variation in relation to erythrocyte species. Memórias do Institute Butantan 30: 133-142, 1960-1961-1962.
10. Laure CJ. Estrutura primária da Crotamina. Tese de Livre-Docência. Faculdade Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 1975.
11. O'Connor R, Peck ML. Venoms of apidae. In: Bettini S. (ed.) Arthropod Venoms. Springer Verlag p. 613-618, 1978.
12. Omori-Satoh T. Antihemorrhagic factor as a proteinase inhibitor isolated from the serum of Trimeresurus flavoviridis Biochimica et Byophysica Acta 495: 93-98, 1977.
13. Ownby CL, Geren CR. Pathogenesis of hemorrhage induced by hemorrhagic proteinase IV from timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) venom. Toxicon 25: 517-526, 1987.
14. Rosenfeld G, Kelen EMA, Nudel F. Hemolytic activity of animal venoms. I. Classification in different types and activities. Memórias do Instituto Butantan 30:117-132, 1960-1961-1962.
15. Tu AT, Toom PM, Ganthavom S. Hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities of Thailand snake venoms. Biochemical Pharmacology 16: 2125-2130, 1967.

Adress to correspondence:

Dr. Edimo Garcia de Lima

Faculty of medicine of Ribeirão Preto/USP.

14049

Ribeirão Preto, SP. Brasil.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
28 May 2013
Date of issue
Dec 1989

History

Received
15 June 1989
Accepted
15 June 1989

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Conti MAB. Estrutura primária da cadeia B da Crotapotina. Tese de Doutorado. Faculdade Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 1986.

[2] 2. Gabilan NH. Estrutura primária da cadeia C da Crotapotina. Tese de Doutourado. Faculdade Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 1984.

[3] 3. Garcia-Lima E, Laure CJA. Study of bacterial contamination of rattlesnake venom. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 20: 19-21, 1987.

[4] 4. Goucher CR, Flowers HH. The chemical modification of neurogenic and proteolytic activities of venom and the use of EDTA to produce Agkistrodum piscivorus venom toxoid. Toxicon 2: 139-147, 1964.

[5] 5. Grotto L, Moroz C, DeVries A, Goldblum N. Isolation of vipera palestinae hemorrhagin and distinction between its hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 133: 356-362, 1967.

[6] 6.Habermann E. Bee and wasp venoms. Science 177: 314-322, 1972.

[7] 7. Houssay BA. Classification des actions de venins de serpents sur l'organismes animal. Comptes Rendus des Séances de la Société de Biologie 105: 308-310, 1930.

[8] 8. Huang SY, Perez JC. Comparative study on hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities of snake venoms. Toxicon 18: 421-426, 1980.

[9] 9. Kelen EMA, Rosenfeld G, Nudel F. Hemolytic activity of animal venoms. II. Variation in relation to erythrocyte species. Memórias do Institute Butantan 30: 133-142, 1960-1961-1962.

[10] 10. Laure CJ. Estrutura primária da Crotamina. Tese de Livre-Docência. Faculdade Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 1975.

[11] 11. O'Connor R, Peck ML. Venoms of apidae. In: Bettini S. (ed.) Arthropod Venoms. Springer Verlag p. 613-618, 1978.

[12] 12. Omori-Satoh T. Antihemorrhagic factor as a proteinase inhibitor isolated from the serum of Trimeresurus flavoviridis Biochimica et Byophysica Acta 495: 93-98, 1977.

[13] 13. Ownby CL, Geren CR. Pathogenesis of hemorrhage induced by hemorrhagic proteinase IV from timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) venom. Toxicon 25: 517-526, 1987.

[14] 14. Rosenfeld G, Kelen EMA, Nudel F. Hemolytic activity of animal venoms. I. Classification in different types and activities. Memórias do Instituto Butantan 30:117-132, 1960-1961-1962.

[15] 15. Tu AT, Toom PM, Ganthavom S. Hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities of Thailand snake venoms. Biochemical Pharmacology 16: 2125-2130, 1967.