Sulfated Polysaccharides and Resistance to Russell's Viper Venom.

Abstract

Various connective tissue mucopolysaccharides such as heparin, heparin monosulfate and chondroitin sulfate B protected mice in a dose-response manner against the lethal effects resulting from intravenous challenge with Russell''s Viper venom. Although this protective effect could be readily demonstrated following pretreatment of animals with any of the active substances, each polysaccharide was far more effective if mixed with the venom prior to challenge. Other substances such as dextran sulfate, fucoidin and poly glucose sulfate were also active, but heparin was the most effective substance tested. It was suggested that heparin may have a direct anti-venom effect and inasmuch as this muco-polysaccharide is rapidly secreted from mast cells in response to subcutaneous injection with venom, heparin may play a role in natural resistance to local envenomation with this material.