ABSTRACT
The nematocyst venom of the sea anemone Bunodosoma caisarum obtained by electric stimulation of the animals has hemolytic activity on fish, toad, snake, mice and rat erythrocytes. The hemolytic action was dose-dependent and the ED50 varied between 2.9 and 7.6*g venom/ml erythrocyte suspension (0.5%, v/v). Toad erythrocytes were the most sensitive while rat erythrocytes were the most resistant to the sea anemone venom. The hemolytic activity of venom in mice was partially inhibited by preincubation of the venom with sphingomyelin for 1h. The ED50 was increased 3.8-fold when 10.0* sphingomyelin per ml erythrocyte suspension produced approximately 95% hemolysis and were inhibited only by 40.0*g sphingomyelin. The hemolysin activity was inhibited by heating to 90-C but not to 70-C