Acute myotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of Aipysurus laevis venom following intramuscular injection in mice.
We studied the local toxic effects on muscle and kidney following injections of incremental doses of crude Aipysurus laevis venom in mice. Mice were sacrificed at 24 hours after intramuscular injection. The soleus muscle and kidneys were examined by light microscopy. Injected muscle showed coagulative necrosis and inflammation, the severity of the damage increased with increasing dose of toxin injected, reaching a peak at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight. Our findings suggest that the venom is directly myotoxic, mainly affecting mitochondrial rich fibres. The associated inflammatory response is probably secondary to muscle damage rather than a direct toxic effect of the venom. There is also renal damage which is more severe than that seen following subcutaneous venom injection in our previous studies. This can be explained by a more rapid absorption of injected venom.
Department of Anatomical Pathology, South Western Area Pathology Service, Liverpool, Australia. shantay.ryan@swsahs.nsw.gov.au
Shantay E
SE
Ryan
Jim L C
JL
Yong
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D017815:Elapidae; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009220:Myositis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis
D004546:Elapid Venoms