Biological study of muscle degenerating hemorrhagic factor from the venom of Vipera aspis aspis (aspic viper).

1. A hemorrhagic factor was isolated from Vipera a. aspis venom by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography. 2. Molecular weight of the purified factor was determined to be 67,000 Da, which was composed of 552 amino acid residues. 3. The minimum hemorrhagic dose (MHD) was measured to be 0.11 micrograms per mouse with subcutaneous injection. The hemorrhagic activity was inhibited by chelating agents and reductant. 4. The hemorrhagic factor possesses proteolytic activity against dimethylcasein. 5. Serum creatine phosphokinase level was rapidly increased within 30 min following injections of this preparation into the mice thighs. 6. Actin, one of the main components of muscle fiber, is apparently digested by the hemorrhagic factor. The pathological findings are further reported in this paper.