Hemolytic activity of the nematocyst venom from the sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum.
The nematocyst venom of the sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum obtained by electric stimulation of the animals has hemolytic activity on fish, toad, snake, mice and rat erythrocytes. The hemolytic action was dose-dependent and the ED50 varied between 2.9 and 7.6 micrograms venom/ml erythrocyte suspension (0.5%, v/v). Toad erythrocytes were the most sensitive while rat erythrocytes were the most resistant to the sea anemone venom. The hemolytic activity of venom in mice was partially inhibited by preincubation of the venom with sphingomyelin for 1 h. The ED50 was increased 3.8-fold when 10.0 micrograms sphingomyelin per ml erythrocyte suspension was used. Venom concentrations above 33.6 micrograms/ml erythrocyte suspension produced approximately 95% hemolysis and were inhibited only by 40.0 micrograms sphingomyelin. The hemolysin activity was inhibited by heating to 90 degrees C but not to 70 degrees C.
Departamento de Fisiologia Geral, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
E L
EL
Malpezzi
J C
JC
Freitas
D000818:Animals; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005399:Fishes; D006461:Hemolysis; D051379:Mice; D011898:Ranidae; D051381:Rats; D012615:Sea Anemones; D012911:Snakes; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000494:pharmacology
D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D013109:Sphingomyelins