Russell's viper venom fractions and nephrotoxicity.

Apparently healthy Wistar rats of body weight 250-300 g were chosen for the experiments. A group of 6 rats were assigned for each fraction. The dose of Russell's viper venom (RVV) fraction used for in vivo experiments was 0.75 microgram/g body weight. Of each batch of 6 rats 3 were sacrificed on the third day and the remaining 3 on the fifth day after the administration of test venom fractions. Daily urine output with proteinuria and serum creatinine were determined on the day they were sacrificed. Kidneys from the rats were also examined under light microscopy after hematoxylin and eosin staining. In the in vitro experiment, kidney slices (1 mm thickness) from normal rat was incubated with RVV fractions of 5 mg/ml concentration. The predominant renal lesions observed in both sets of animal experiments were tubular degeneration and necrosis. The changes were mostly confined to proximal tubules. Glomerular changes were mild. Similar tubulotoxic effects were produced by whole RVV as well as single fractions. Therefore, it is possible that RVV contains a common nephrotoxic (protein) component which is present in all fractions of the venom. The renal damage caused by RVV seemed to be due to both systemic effects (mainly DIC and renal ischemia) and direct tubulotoxic effects of the venom.