The effect of calf blood extract (Solcoseryl, SS) on mitochondrial oxidative function in various states was studied polarographically in vitro. 1) Mitochondrial respiration in all 4 conventional study states (Estabrook, 1967) was enhanced by the addition of SS, including states 1 and 2 (endogenous substrates only). 2) The effect of SS on mitochondrial oxygen consumption was concentration dependent, while ADP/O ratio remained constant. The effect of added respiratory substrates varied with the particular substrate at optimally active concentrations. With suboptimal substrate levels, ADP/O ratios were concentration dependent, in contrast to the SS effect. Under oligomycin ATPase inhibition, SS was no longer active, in contrast to DNP, which remained active. 3) In states 3 (added ADP) and 4 (ADP exhausted), oxygen consumption and oxidative phosphorylation were enhanced by SS in the presence or absence of citrate, glutamate, pyruvate, lactate, or ascorbate. However, in the presence of succinate, SS had no effect. 4) ADP/O ratio was decreased by SS in the presence of added substrate, suggesting that SS activation of H(+)-ATPase enhances ATP hydrolysis as well as oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis. 5) The enhancing effect of SS on mitochondrial function is due to hydrophilic components of SS. The lipidic components obtained by Folch fraction of SS have no effect. It is concluded that the effects of SS respiratory substrates and uncouplers on mitochondrial function are essentially different. SS enhances both ATP synthesis and oxygen consumption by mitochondria.

Batroxobin, a thrombin-like enzyme from Bothrops atrox moojeni venom, is associated with the reduction of fibrinogen levels in plasma and the enhancement of anticoagulation and fibrinolysis. In this study, 15 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) achieved successful limb salvage after the administration of batroxobin. We found that the levels of CD34+, CD31+, CD34+/CD31+, and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin+) cells had increased in the peripheral blood of patients at 7 days and 14 days after treatment. At 0 day, 7 days, and 14 days, the percentages of CD34+ cells, which are assumed to be hematopoietic stem cells, are 0.39% ± 0.43%, 0.71% ± 0.50%, and 1.11% ± 0.66%, respectively. The levels of CD34+ cells at 14 days are significantly higher than the levels on the first day (P = .004). The levels of CD31+ cells and VE-cadherin+ cells, which represent mature endothelial cells, at 7 days (34.15% ± 11.32%, P = .013; 1.25% ± 1.39%, P = .014) and 14 days (35.21% ± 7.66%, P = .071; 1.85% ± 2.60%, P = .117) were slightly elevated compared with those at 0 day (27.55% ± 8.65%; 0.25 ± 0.39%). The double positive of CD34 and CD31 cells are assumed to be endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The levels of CD34+/CD31+ cells at 7 days (0.69% ± 0.50%, P = .001) and 14 days (1.07% ± 0.66%, P = .006) are significantly higher than that on the initial day (0.28% ± 0.30%). The number of CD34+/CD31+ cells significantly increased, indicating that in addition to its role in anticoagulation and fibrinolysis, treatment with batroxobin might simultaneously activate circulating EPCs that might promote the recanalization of the damaged vessel wall.

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