Protective effect of cobra venom factor on pulmonary injury induced by oleic acid

The protective effect of cobra venom factor (CVF), separated from the venom 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 continually monitored. The experimental results showed that CVF, given 20 h before the dosage depleting complements exceed 95%, significantly attenuated oleic acid-induced pulmonary dysfunction, including hypoxemia, increasing veno-arterial shunt and P(A-a)O2 and decreasing dynamic compliance and pulmonary blood flow. Histological examination of lung tissues after the experiment also showed improvement of hyaline membrane formation, alveolar haemorrhage and pulmonary arteriolar thrombosis. It was evident that the depletion of serum complements by CVF inhibited the development of lung injury induced by oleic acid. CVF might be a potentially useful drug for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in the near future.