Abstract

YOSHIDA, Edson Hideaki et al. Oxidative stress and changes in hematological and biochemical biomarkers in Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) venom-induced acute kidney injury in rats. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2022, vol.30, n.1, pp.11-20. ISSN 1851-3743.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the major cause of mortality following bites by the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. We investigated the early onset of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom-induced AKI in rats within 2 h of venom injection and its attenuation by antivenom. Several biomarkers were used to monitor AKI in the absence or presence of antivenom. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=5 each): G1, rats injected with saline (control); G2, rats injected with venom (6 mg kg-1, intraperitoneally) and euthanized after 2 h to evaluate AKI; G3 and G4, rats injected with 0.9% sterile saline or antivenom 2 h after venom, respectively, and monitored until death or up to 24 h post-venom, and G5, rats injected with antivenom alone and monitored for 24 h. Blood, urine and renal tissue samples were collected immediately after death to assess oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical alterations, and renal histological damage. Venom caused AKI within 2 h (G2) that persisted for up to 8.2 ± 1.6 h (G3), as confirmed by increases in blood urea, creatinine, and renal proteinuria; these increases were attenuated by antivenom. There were no changes in blood protein concentrations in G2 and G3, whereas there were increases in blood reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and plasma TBARS (but not in catalase) that were attenuated to varying extents by antivenom. There were no marked changes in platelets or leukocytes, but an increase in erythrocytes after 8.2 h with venom alone was attenuated by antivenom. Renal glomerular and tubular damage was greatest after 2 h post-venom groups alone was attenuated by antivenom. Renal glomerular and tubular damage was greatest after 2 h post-venom and declined thereafter. Venom caused early-onset AKI, with variable effects on lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Antivenom attenuated the AKI, as shown by the decrease in blood urea and the normalization of proteinuria, without protecting against lipid peroxidation.

Keywords : Acute kidney injury; Antivenom; Biomarkers; Crotalus durissus terrificus; Oxidative stress.

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