ISSN:
1432-1912
Keywords:
Direct Lytic Factor
;
Cobra Venom
;
Phospholipase A
;
Red Cells
;
Haemolysis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The effect of increasing the (colloid-)osmotic pressure in the extracellular medium on haemolysis by the direct lytic factor of cobra venom (DLF) and phospholipase A has been investigated. For comparison, N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM) and p-chloromercuribenzoate (p-CMB) were used. Dextran and sucrose abolished the haemolytic effect of NEM and p-CMB but reduced only slightly (dextran) or not (sucrose) the weak lytic activity of DLF. Haemolysis by phospholipase A in the presence of DLF, NEM or p-CMB was not significantly inhibited. Hypertonic NaCl solution considerably retarded the onset of haemolysis by DLF plus phospholipase A. The mean corpuscular volume of guinea-pig red cells increased slightly but definitely during incubation with DLF. It is concluded that the haemolytic effect of DLF has non-osmotic as well as osmotic components, and that phospholipase A causes non-osmotic haemolysis. The retardation of haemolysis by hypertonic NaCl probably indicates specific inhibition of bee venom phospholipase A2, not protection of the erythrocytes from osmotic stress.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00501234
