The Role of Endotoxin in the Extracellular Coagulation of Limulus Blood
Levin, J.; Bang, F.B.
Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital 115: 265-274
1964
ISSN/ISBN: 0097-1383 PMID: 14209047 Document Number: 3192
The coagulation of Limulus pre-gel by the endotoxin of a Vibrio species has been studied. Limulus plasma, containing no cellular material, did not gel when endotoxin was added. There was a direct relationship between the endotoxin concentration and the time of onset of viscosity, but the final degree of gelation was not affected. EDTA inhibited this reaction. Endotoxin was inactivated following gelation of pre-gel. The reaction between endotoxin and pre-gel to form gel appears to be similar to the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, by thrombin, although the nature of the clottable protein in Limulus is unknown. The kinetics of the reaction suggest that an enzyme system is responsible for the conversion of pre-gel to gel. The characteristics of the reaction of Limulus to endotoxin are in many ways similar to those of the rabbit under conditions which produce the Schwartzman phenomenon.
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