Identification and estimation of an acetylcholine-like substance in the venom of Dendroaspis jamesoni.

An acetylcholine-like substance was isolated from desiccated Jameson's mamba venom by one-dimensional ascending paper chromatography. The migratory and staining properties of the substance were identical with those of standard acetylcholine. Pharmacological identification on various in vitro and in vivo biological test objects showed that the substance was acetylcholine. It was further confirmed by high-voltage paper electrophoresis. The acetylcholine content was 4.35--4.36 mg/g of desiccated venom as shown by two different biological assay methods, and the index of discrimination was found to be 1.1, further confirming that substance in snake venom was acetylcholine.