Hemolytic, lethal and edema-forming activities of the skin secretion from the oriental catfish (Plotosus lineatus).

The crude extract from the skin secretion of the oriental catfish, Plotosus lineatus, contained at least one hemolysin, two lethal factors and two edema-forming factors; the lethal and edema-forming factors seem to be identical. The molecular weights of the hemolysin and the lethal factors (edema-forming factors) were estimated to be 180,000 and 12,000, respectively. Peculiar secretory cells, which resembled the venom glandular cells of the dorsal and pectoral stings, were observed in the epidermis.