Liver Damage Induced by Cerastes cerastes Venom and a Purified Hemorrhagic Toxin PDF

Keywords

liver tissues, mice, venom

Abstract

Histological alterations produced in the liver tissues of mice intramuscularly with a sublethal dose of the crude venom of the non-horned Cerastes cerastes snake were studied after 24h of envenomination. The hepatocytes were noticeably hypertrophied, exhibiting distinct degenerative changes accompanied with disorganization of the hepatic lobular structure. The blood sinusoids were constricted and their endothelial linings were markedly deteriorated. The collagen lying around the blood vessels and the sinusoids have lost their continuity being demolished and dissolved at certain points. Moreover, the pathogenesis induced by a pure hemorrhagic fraction (HR-1) isolated from the crude venom, on the liver tissue of mouse, was microscopically studied after 24h, of intramuscular injection of a sublethal dose of it. Light microscopic observations revealed cytoplasmic granulation and vacuolation, together with focal areas of cellular degeneration. Hepatic sinusoids were engorged with RBC's and endothelial damage was displayed. Severe degree of collagenolytic activity was also prominent.