PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF COBRA VENOM FACTOR ON PULMONARY INJURY-INDUCED BY OLEIC-ACID

The protective effect of cobra venom factor(CVF), separated from the v enom of Naja naja atra, on pulmonary injury induced by oleic acid was reported. The blood gas tensions, tidal volume, transthoracic pressure and pulmonary arterial pressure in anaesthetized dogs were continuall y monitored. The experimental results showed that CVF, given 20 h befo re the dosage depleting complements exceed 95%, significantly attenuat ed oleic acid-induced pulmonary dysfunction, including hypoxemia, incr easing veno-arterial Shunt and P(A-a)O-2 and decreasing dynamic compli ance and pulmonary blood flow. Histoloical examination of lung tissues after the experiment also showed improvement of hyaline membrane form ation, alveolar haemorrhage and pulmonary arteriolar thrombosis. It wa s evident that the depletion of serum complements by CVF inhibited the development of lung injury induced by oleic acid. CVF might be a pote ntially useful drug for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in the near future.