Protection of Rats by Phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus against the Effects of Intravenous Infusions of Purified Tissue Thromboplastin

Abstract

Infusions of purified tissue thromboplastin in rats cause the accumulation of fibrin and platelets in the lungs and produce marked changes in the platelet count and in the coagulation factors V, VII and VIII. Tissue thromboplastin in a dose corresponding to < 2 .mu.g protein/rat is lethal when given as a bolus injection. Simultaneous i.v. administration of purified [Bacillus cereus] phospholipase C [EC 3.1.4.3] effectively prevents all these changes and protects rats from otherwise lethal doses of tissue thromboplastin. The necessary doses of phospholipase C are well below the toxic level for phospholipase C alone.