ABSTRACTS

289

Kinins which are present in an active form in wasp and hotaet venom are also discussed. Adistinctionis 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 thisnature present in plasma are not activated by contact with siliconed containers, but are activated by theaddition ofminute amounts of silica (1 x 10 -' parts) will be ofinterest to workers who regularly deal withvenom. (See also Menoot.ts, ibid pp. 133-145).

J.F.C3.

STAHNKE, H. L. (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.

CEIVTRUROIDES sculpturatus Ewing (Buthldat) scorpion venom has proven lethal to human beingsin good health up to 16 years of age and to adults aufferIng from hypertension . This venom producestachycardia, hypertension, skeletal muscle convulsions, excessive salivation, respiratory arrest, visceralhyperemia and gastric hyperdistention. Immunologiwlly it reacts like a polysaccharide and chemicalinvestigations suggest that the toxic factor is eitherapeptide 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 onsnake venom. VIII . Substrate spedficity of L-amino acid oxidase in Mamushi (Agkfstrodonhalt's blomho�Bî Bote) and Habu (71~imeresurtu oklnavmsls Boulanger) venons . 1. Pharma-

reutlcal Soc., Japan, 80, 1002, 1960.

$Ulü4AATE specificity of Iramino acid oxidase in the venons of Japanese "Mamushi" (Agklstrodon halt'sblomho~ and "Habu" (7ilmeresurus okümvensis) was examined with 46 kinds ofamino acid. Tho enzymdfrom these snake venom were stronger thaw that of cobra venom and were especially marked in oxidizingarginine 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.

Te~ru, M. (Dept. Physiol . Chew . Nut., Fac. Med., Univ ., Tokyo) : Effect of snake venomupon 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-potassiumdependent, ouabain sensitive adenosine triphosphatase. This enzyme was completely inactivated aftertreatment of membrane preparations with phospholipase A from the venom of 7lrimeresurus flavlvlridls .Canon independent, ouabain insensitive ATP-ase was practically unaffected by this treatment. Adetergent(identified only by brand name) gave a similar result when added to membrane preparations . A lipid com-ponent 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. andMed., 113, 841, 1%3.

Rrsroris~ of isolated perfused canine lungs to venons of Nq/a hannah and Crotalas adamanteus weredetenmined. The increase in pulmonary artery pressure, increase in lung weight and occurrence ofpulmonary edema produced by these venons was apparently mediated through a heat-labile componentof blood. The effects noted wind be distinguished from those produced by the histamine-releaser 48/80 orhistamine, and an antihistaminic drug which blocked the effects ofhistamine did not alter the characteristicresponses to venom. Vascular responses to venom wereprevented by prior admin,crrntion ofepsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) . C. adamanteus venom produces clotting in addition to the above actions, but EACAdid not prevent this action .

P.R .S .