Plasma Protein Shedding by the Canine Oxyntic Glandular Mucosa Induced by Topical Application of Snake Venoms and Ethanol

Abstract

A single irrigation of the mucosa of a pouch of the oxyntic glandular mucosa of a dog’s stomach with a dilute (0.5 mg per ml) solution of lyophilized venom of the hooded cobra (Naja rtaja) breaks the gastric mucosal barrier, but shedding of plasma does not occur. Twenty to 40 days later a similar irrigation with cobra venom solution causes a very large (sometimes more than 30 ml in 30 min) shedding of plasma through the mucosa. This plasma shedding builds up after the initial irrigation with or without frequently repeated irrigation of the mucosa with cobra venom solution, and it declines from its peak in about 30 days, leaving various degrees of residual plasma shedding. When the response has declined essentially to zero, irrigation with cobra venom solution still breaks the gastric mucosal barrier. Treatment of the dog with prednisolone tertiary butylacetate (1 mg per kg intramuscularly a day for 7 to 14 days) attenuates but does not abolish plasma shedding during irrigation with cobra venom solution. Irrigation of the mucosa with ethanol (30% v/v) also causes plasma shedding whether the mucosa has previously shed plasma in response to irrigation with cobra venom solution. Irrigation of a pouch with a dilute solution (0.5 mg per ml) of lyophilized venom of a viper (Vipera russellt) does not in itself induce plasma shedding, but if the mucosa is irrigated with a solution of viper venom immediately after it has been irrigated with ethanol, a plasma shedding response may be induced. Induction of plasma shedding by irrigation of the mucosa with numerous other foreign proteins combined with various barrier breakers has not been achieved.