THE EVALUATION IN THE DOG OF A PROTEOLYTIC ENZYME DERIVED FROM ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE

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Abstract
A proteolytic enzyme (Aspergillin-O) derived from Aspergillus Oryzae was studied. For this purpose arterial and venous occluding thrombi in dogs were subjected to systemic treatment with the enzyme, and the value of Aspergillin-O in thrombolytic therapy, as well as its toxic side effects and some aspects of its pharmacology are described. Lysis of occluding arterial thrombi was achieved within a few hours after the administration of enzyme preparations by single intravenous injection, and arteries remained patent during the week of post-treatment observation. The thrombolytic dose was found to vary from animal to animal, but was generally comparable in its effect to a dose of human fibrinolysin of between 250 and 300 Michigan Department of Health caseinolytic units. The variations in dose requirements and toxicity were attributed to individual protease resistance, and a dose prediction test based on this concept is described. The dose prediction test was found to make possible the safe and efficient use of the enzyme in systemic thrombolytic therapy.