CYTOLYSINS IN SNAKE VENOM 201 
EFFECT OF VENOM ON CELLS OF COLD-BLOODED ANIMALS.! 
For the purpose of this study Flexner and Noguchi employed three differ- 
ent kinds of cells: (a) nerve cells; (6) spermatozoa; (c) ova. 
Nerve cells: In regard to the neurolysis by venom the nerve cells contained 
in the pre-cesophageal ganglia of Sycotypus canaliculatus, Modiola modiolus, 
and Mactra solidissima were employed and seen to undergo rapid disintegra- 
tion under the influence of venom. For the details I refer to the separate 
heading ‘‘venom neurolysis in vitro.” 
Sperm cells: For the study of venom spermatolysis, the spermatozoa of 
several different orders of animals —the reptilia, arthropoda, vermes, pisces, 
and echinodermata —were employed. The method of study consisted in 
suspending the spermatozoa in sea-water or normal saline solution (0.85 per 
cent), depending upon the nature of the animal. To the uniform milky sus- 
pensions the venom in 1 per cent solution was added. The effects were 
noted im vitro by the naked eye and under the microscope. Below are two 
typical experiments given to avoid detailed descriptions for each species: 
TABLE 14. 

[Experiment I: Spermatozoa of Chrysemys picta (Painted Turtle).] 
Control. Cobra. Moccasin. Crotalus. 
Spermatozoa ac- | The milky hue becoming | Suspension becoming clearer, | No change; active 
tive; normal lighter; motility lost; no motility; swelling of motility. 
appearance; 30 many partially dis- middle piece especially | 
minutes. solved. marked. 
Like control; 2 | Fluid clearing and al- | Moderate agglutination; con- | No marked change 
hours. most without deposit. siderable deposit and much | to naked eye. Mo- 
Microscopically, frag- clearing of the suspension. tility present in 
ments only visible. Many of the cells dissolved. some individuals. 
No motility; ten- | Fluid almost completely | Clear fluid, but whitish; ag- | Motility absent; de- 
dency of cells cleared. All cells glutinated deposit in which posit of cells; no 
to sink to bot- practically dissolved. many of the cells remain in agglutination. 
tom of test- a swollen condition. 
tube; 4 hours. 

[Experiment II: Spermatozoa of Tautogolabrus adspersus (Cunner).] 
Very active mo- | Motility gone in 5 min- | Clearing in 30 minutes owing | Slight agglutination; 
tility; 30 min- utes; beginning in 10 to marked agglutination; | motility much re- 
utes. minutes to clear; no deposit forming. duced. 
agglutination. ne 
Very active mo- | Solution complete. Deposit undergoing solution. | Very slight motility 
tility; 1 hour. | remains. : 
Very active mo- | Solution complete. Only débris remains. Motility gone; little 
tility; 2 hours. | if any solution. 


These two experiments will suffice to show the rapid action of cobra and 
the weaker effect of water-moccasin and crotalus venom in causing sperma- 
tolysis. ‘The effect of crotalus venom is, indeed, but slightly injurious, pro- 
ducing, as it does, agglutination, but almost no solution of the cells. 
1 Mitchell and Reichert observed that the crotalus venom causes the cilia of pharyngeal epithelia to 
cease their motions, but those of the tunic of oysters remained unaffected. 
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