Hemodynamic Changes Provoked through Intravascular Injection of the Echis carinatus Venom in Rats

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Pharmacology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

2 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

3 Department of Aquatic Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Pathology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

5 College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, KR

6 Department of Human Vaccine and Serum, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

7 School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

Abstract

Echis carinatus (E. carinatus) is known for its hematological and nephrotoxic properties in the envenomed patients. Based on the limited data upon the cardiovascular changes associated with this dangerous venomous snake in Iran, the current study purposed to evaluate the venom-induced hemodynamic manifestations in rats. Venom (120 µg/kg) was administered intravenously within one minute through the left femoral vein, and the hemodynamic parameters were continuously recorded using a pressure transducer (MLT844, ADInstruments, Australia). The venom caused prominent hypotension leading to death a few minutes after a transient uprise in blood pressure. It also induced a decrease in heart and pulmonary rates, yet it had no arrhythmogenic properties. Additionally, pre-treatment with the pepsin-derived Iranian polyvalent antivenom (30 µl/Kg) completely neutralized the hemodynamic responses but had no effect when instilled two minutes after venom injection. Heparin (300 IU/kg) and epinephrine (1.5 µg/kg) prevented dramatic hypotension when used 10 minutes before venom instillation; however, atropine (1 mg/kg), dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), and ketorolac (10 mg/ml) had no effects. All treated rats were killed post-injection. Histologically, the lung was the most vulnerable organ with mononuclear infiltration, microcystic formation, and significant capillary congestion. Prominent renal pathological deterioration also occurred, including mesangial cell infiltration and diffuse bleeding, leading to acute tubular necrosis. Modest portal inflammation and vascular congestion were observed in the hepatic tissue of the envenomed rats. The crude venom of Iranian Echis carinatus caused hypotension leading to bradycardia, a decrease in pulmonary rate, and death without significant histological changes to the heart.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [French]

Modifications Hémodynamiques Provoquées par l'Injection Intravasculaire de Venin d'Echis carinatus Chez les Rats

Abstract [French]

Echis carinatus (E. carinatus) est connu pour ses propriétés hématologiques et néphrotoxiques chez les patients envenimés. Sur la base des données limitées concernant les changements cardiovasculaires associés à ce dangereux serpent venimeux en Iran, la présente étude visait à évaluer les manifestations hémodynamiques induites par le venin chez les rats. Du venin (120 µg/kg) a été administré par voie intraveineuse en une minute dans la veine fémorale gauche, et les paramètres hémodynamiques ont été enregistrés en continu à l'aide d'un transducteur de pression (MLT844, ADInstruments, Australie). Le venin a provoqué une hypotension importante entraînant la mort quelques minutes après une augmentation transitoire de la pression artérielle. Il a également induit une diminution des fréquences cardiaques et pulmonaires, mais il n'avait pas de propriétés arythmogènes. De plus, le prétraitement avec l'antivenin polyvalent iranien dérivé de la pepsine (30 µl/kg) a complètement neutralisé les réponses hémodynamiques mais n'a eu aucun effet lorsqu'il a été instillé deux minutes après l'injection de venin. L'héparine (300 IU/kg) et l'épinéphrine (1.5 µg/kg) ont empêché une hypotension dramatique lorsqu'elles ont été utilisées 10 minutes avant l'instillation de venin; cependant, l'atropine (1 mg/kg), la dexaméthasone (1 mg/kg) et le kétorolac (10 mg/ml) n'ont eu aucun effet. Tous les rats traités ont été tués après l'injection. Histologiquement, le poumon était l'organe le plus vulnérable avec une infiltration mononucléaire, une formation microkystique et une congestion capillaire importante. Une détérioration pathologique rénale importante s'est également produite, y compris une infiltration de cellules mésangiales et un saignement diffus, conduisant à une nécrose tubulaire aiguë. Une inflammation portale modeste et une congestion vasculaire ont été observées dans le tissu hépatique des rats envenimés. Le venin brut d'Echis carinatus iranien a provoqué une hypotension entraînant une bradycardie, une diminution de la fréquence pulmonaire et la mort sans modifications histologiques significatives du cœur.

Keywords [French]

  • Echis carinatus
  • Venin
  • serpent
  • hémodynamique
  • Antivenin
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