Studies on the Immunological Reactions of a Snake Venom by the Crossing Paper Electrophoresis

Immunological reactions of the venom of the Japanese viper, Agkistrodon halys (Pallas) with its antiserum was studied by the technique of the crossing paper electrophoresis. The viper venom contained 7 electrophoretic fractions, and the purified antisera contained β-and/or γ-globulins. The distribution of antigens in the fractions of the viper venom, and that of antibodies in the fractions of the antiserum were elucidated by the crossing diagrams of the viper venom against the antiserum, which could be obtained by the two-dimensional techniques. It was concluded, that the venom of the Japanese viper contained over 20 antigens, namely substances which could be distinguished immunologically. Of them about 8 were distributed in the 4th fraction of the venom, and of the corresponding antibodies 6 in β-and 2 in γ-globulin of the antiserum. The 1st and 2nd fractions contained one antigen each, corresponding to the antibodies in β-globulin. The 5th, the 6th, and the 7th fractions contained 7,3,and 3 antigens respectively. Of them one in the 5th fraction and 2in the 7th fraction had their corresponding antibodies in γ-globulin of the antise　rum.