Influence of snake venoms on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis

Abstract

The influences of several kinds of snake venoms, which indicate thrombin-like actions on the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were investigated with special reference to factor XIII, and the results that were obtained are as follows;
1) Venoms are able to form cross-linkage of fibrin more slowly than thrombin can act.
2) Ca-ion is necessary in the formation of the cross-linkage of fibrin by the use of venoms.
3) When cysteine solutions are not added into the reaction mixture, the fibrin clot formed by thrombin does not dissolve in 1% monochlor acetic acid solution, but the fibrin clot formed by venoms dissolves in the acidic solution.
4) When the reaction mixture containes cysteine, the fibrin clot formed by venoms becomes insoluble in 1% monochlor acetic acid solution, after 30min. or 1hr. incubation.
5) The action of Defibrase prepared from Bothrops atrox marajoensis venom on the activation of factor XIII resembles tha of Venacil from Agkistrodon rhodostoma venom, but Defibrase from Bothrops atrox moojeni venom demonstrates a slightly stronger activity for the activation of factor XIII in comparison with the activities of the other two venoms.