In this paper, the biological toxicity of Mamushi- snake venom and morphological changes caused by the venom are described.
1. LD50. of the venom to ddN male mice weighing 17to 20g. are 19-23γ intravenously, 27-31γ intraperitoneally and 97-118γ intramuscularly.
2. Haemorrhagic action is recognized even in 0.08 γ per 0. 1ml. of the venom, Out of four kinds of land-inhabiting snake-Mamushi -snake venom, Habu-snake venom and Sakishi mahabusnake venom-Mamushi snake venom has the strongest haemorrhagic activity.
3. The haemorrhagic and myolytic action are influenced by pH.
4. The haemorrhagic and lethal activity are inactivated by heating at 70°C for 5 minutes or at 100°C for 1 minute.
5. In mice, and guinea pigs, morphological changes caused by Mamushi-snake venom are as follow.
in mice, inoculated with the venom intravenously, intraperitoneally or intramuscularly, haemorrhagic lesions in the injected portion and degenerative and necrotic lesions in the parenchymal organs are common findings.
In guinea pigs, inoculated intramuscularly, morphological changes are haemorrhage and coagulations-necrosis at the inoculated portion, and degenerative and necrotic lesions in the parenchymal organs. Further, adrenal glands, liver, thymus, lymphnodes and spleen present reactive changes probably due to stressor.
As above montioned, Mamushi snake venom has lethal, haemorrhagic and myonecrotic action. Furthermore it is morphologically considered to have action as stressor.