Effects of intramuscular injection of a sublethal dose of the Egyptian cobra snake on the histological and histochemical pattern of the kidney.

Abstract

The effects of intramuscular (i.m.) injection of a sub-lethal dose of cobra venom (0.015 microgram/gm body weight) on the histological and histochemical patterns of the kidney of rabbit were examined after 3, 6, and 12 hr. of envenomation. The histological observations after 3 hr. of envenomation showed glomerular congestion together with slight swelling of the cortical tubular epithelia. However, no changes were recorded in the medullar tubules. Serious alterations were recorded after 6 hr. of envenomation. It included thickening of the Bowman's capsules, signs of mesangiolysis, and glomerular collapse. The cortical tubular epithelia were swollen and revealed cytoplasmic granulation, coagulation, or depletion. Nuclear pyknosis and cellular damage were recorded in some areas. The medullar tubules showed cytoplasmic degeneration with no nuclear changes. By 12 hr. of envenomation a higher degree of severity was recorded. The glomerular tufts were hypertrophied or suffered from partial damage. Mesangiolysis and glomerulolysis were common and some glomerular tufts were completely transformed to clumps of hyaline casts. The cortical tubules showed hyaline coagulation, together with severe tubular damage in which the boundaries of the individual tubule cannot be identified. Numerous inflammatory cells were observed invading the damaged epithelial cells and the intertubular spaces. The medullar tubules showed swollen epithelia with cytoplasmic changes and nuclear pyknosis or karyolysis. Histochemically, the polysaccharide inclusion was increased in the glomerular tufts, the Bowman's capsules, and the basement membranes and brush borders of the renal tubules after 3 and 6 hr. of envenomation. By 12 hr. of envenomation, decreased PAS reactivity was recorded in all renal components except the glomerular tufts which exhibited intensive reactivity. Time-dependent depletion of lipid, protein, and RNA components was recorded in the renal tissues of the three envenomed groups. However, no changes in DNA reactivity were detected in renal tissues of the 3 hr. envenomed group. The nuclei of certain renal tubules revealed weak DNA reactivity after 6 hr. of envenomation, while most of the nuclei lost their contents by 12 hr. of envenomation. The results indicated serious histological and histochemical alterations induced in the renal tissues by 6 hr. of envenomation. Such alterations could indicate a disturbance in the functional activity of the kidney during envenomation. Therefore, nephrotoxicity should be considered as one of the serious consequences of such venom.