The Role of Calcium and Divalent Metals in the Coagulation of Blood as Induced by Russell’s Viper Venom

Summary

1. The normal clotting time of plasma can be further reduced if Russell’s viper venom and calcium are preincubated and then added to the plasma instead of using them separately; the percentage of reduction in clotting time is dependent upon the time of incubation of RV venom and calcium.

2. Incubation of the venom with the plasma on the contrary destroys the thromboplastic activity of the venom; here too, the percentage loss of RV venom thromboplastic activity depends upon the time of incubation.

3. Among the many divalent metals tested such as Ba, Sr, Zn, Mg and Mn, only Ba and Sr were found to be capable of replacing Ca in the coagulation process (conversion of prothrombin to thrombin by RV venom), although they were less active than Ca when used at the same concentration range, furthermore Sr was more active than Ba.

^* Research Division, Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, N. Y., U.S.A.

^** Rochester University Medical School, Rochester 20; N. Y., U.S.A.

• References

• (1) Wöhlisch E. The Coagulation of Blood. Umschau 44: 81 1940;
• (2) Sarkar N. K. Enzymes in Blood Coagulation. 359 in Enzymes in Health and Diseases. publ. by Charles C. Thomas; USA: 1960
• (3) Devi A, Banerjee R, Sarkar N. K. Proceedings of the VIIth Int. Congr. of Hematology. vol. II 1960
• (4) Lachantin G. F, Ware A. G. Activation of Thromboplastin. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 14: 152 1954;
• (5) Stefanini M. Basic Mechanisms of Haemostasis. Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. 30: 339 1954;
• (6) Maltaner R. Enhancing effect of Magnesium on Clotting Activity of Calcium. Proc. Soc. exper. Biol. (N. Y.) 3: 67 1948;
• (7) Wallach D. F. H, Maurice P. A, Steele B. B, Surgenor D. M. Studies on the relationship between the colloidal state and clot-promoting activity of pure phosphatidylethanolamines. J. biol. Chem. 234: 2829 1959;
• (9) Chargaff E, Bendick A, Cohen S. S. The thromboplastic protein: Structure properties, Disintegration. J. biol. Chem. 156: 161 1944;
• (9) Quick A. J, Stefanini M. The chemical state of the calcium reacting in the coagulation of blood. J. gen. Physiol. 32: 191 1948;
• (10) Tocantins L. M, Carroll R. T, Holburn R. H. A lipid anticoagulant from brain tissue. Proc. Soc. exper. Biol. (N. Y.) 68: 110 1948;
• (11) Malmström B. O. G, Rosenberg A. Mechanism of metal ion activation of enzymes. Advances in Enzymology 21: 131 1959;
• (12) Meneghini G. Calcium-like activity of Strontium in blood coagulation. Bull. Soc. ital. Biol. sper. 24: 512 1948;
• (13) Meneghini G. Calcium-like activity of Magnesium in blood coagulation. Boll. soc. ital. Biol. sper. 24: 513 1948;
• (14) Meneghini G. Calcium-like activity of Barium in blood coagulation. Boll. Soc. ital. Biol. sper. 24: 515 1948;