Histological, molecular and biochemical detection of renal injury after Echis pyramidum snake envenomation in rats

Abstract

Nephrotoxicity is a common sign of snake envenomation. The present work aimed to clarify the effect of intraperitoneal injection of 1/8 LD50 and 1/4 LD50 doses of Echis pyramidum snake venom on the renal tissue of rats after 2, 4 and 6 h from envenomation. Histopathological examination showed intense dose and time dependent abnormalities, including swelling glomerulus and tubular necrosis and damage as well as signs of intertubular medullary hemorrhage at early stages of envenomation. However, at late stages of envenomation by any of the doses under investigation, no intact renal corpuscles were recorded and complete lysis in renal corpuscles with ruptured Bowman's capsules was observed. Immunohistochemistry by immunohistochemical staining was used to test the protein expression of Bax in renal tissue of rats. The result showed that the expression of Bax in renal tissue sections of envenomated rats was increased according to dose and time-dependant manner. The isolation of DNA from the renal cells of envenomed rats pointed out to the occurrence of DNA fragmentation, which is another indicator for renal tissue injury especially after 6 h of 1/4 LD50 of E. pyramidum envenomation. Oxidative stress biomarkers malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate levels, antioxidant parameters; glutathione, total antioxidant capacity and catalase were assayed in renal tissue homogenates. The venom induced significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate while the levels of glutathione, total antioxidant capacity and catalase were significantly decreased, especially after 6 h of envenomation. The results revealed that the E. pyramidum induced dose and time-dependant significant disturbances in the physiological parameters in the kidney. We conclude that the use of the immunohistochemical techniques, the detection of DNA integrity and oxidative stress marker estimations are more specific tools that can clarify cellular injury and could point out to the defense activity of the renal tissue at envenomation.

The Venom of Spectacled Cobra (Elapidae:Naja naja):In VitroStudy from Distinct Geographical Origins in Sri Lanka

“…In this study the pathological effect of each regional venom sample according to the time of venom administration was evaluated and the pathological data witnessed a toxic effect exerted within 1 hour after IM injection regardless to their originated location. Similar to previous records on relationship between effects of envenomation with the time of envenomation [ 52 ] current study also found severity of the venom increasing parallel to the time.…”

The renoprotective potential of montelukast: a scoping review

“…Although there are numerous reasons for renal cell death, the pathophysiology is the same and is typically associated with an impairment in the microcirculation. This mismatch between the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the nephrons and increased energy demands (increased oxidative stress, loss of ATP) leads to inflammation, vascular and tubular injury, and alteration in kidney biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers 17 – 19 .…”

Ameliorating effect of Alstonia scholaris L. bark extract on histopathological changes following viper envenomation in animal models

“…Nephropathy induced by snake venom was mentioned by Vikrant et al [ 1 ]. Histo-pathological examination showed intense dose and time dependent abnormalities, including swelling glomerulus and tubular necrosis and damage as well as signs of intertubular medullary hemorrhage at early stages of envenomation in kidney sections [ 2 ]· Viper envenomation is associated with degeneration and necrosis. Focal glomerulonephritis is common.…”