Abstract
In the present experiment 164 pregnant white Wistar rats were used to study the effect of Naja haje (Egyptian cobra) venom on the developing kidney. The rats were divided into 3 groups; a control group, a group receiving one LD50 of N. haje venom and the third injected with 1/8 of LD50. The injection was performed at different stages of gestation. After birth, the neonates of group I and III and embryos of group II were examined histologically, histochemically and electron-microscopically. Both lethal and sublethal doses of N. haje venom produced haemorrhages and vascular congestion of the developing kidney. The lethal dose had degenerative effects on the podocytes and endothelium. Tubular damage appeared mainly as mitochondrial degeneration and bud-like extension, protrusions of cytoplasm and vacuolization. The succinic dehydrogenase enzyme showed decreased activity. The sublethal dose had an effect on the glomerular basement membrane in the form of splitting, increased mesangial cells and matrix, mitochondrial degeneration and fusion of podocyte processes. Tubulization of the parietal epithelium, vacuolization of the proximal tubules, mitochondrial degeneration and apical budding were evident.
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