Structural changes in the wall of the small intestine of rats under the conditions of action of Nikolsky’s viper (Vipera berus nikolskii) poison

Abstract

The components of poisons of various living species cause a wide range of effects and symptoms in the victim’s body. The mechanisms of damage to various organs and systems of animals and humans under the influence of specific components of their toxins remain open. The mechanisms of damage to various organs and systems of animals and humans under the influence of specific components of toxins of the venom of vipers remain open. Therefore, the study of the mechanisms of action of viper venom, as well as the development and implementation of a set of measures to reduce the negative impact of their poison on the mammalian organism, remain relevant. The study of the ecological and biological aspects of the violation of the homeostasis of the rat organism under the conditions of the action of viper venom is a complex and multifaceted process that covers various scientific areas. The aim of the study is to identify signs of damage to the small intestine of rats under the conditions of the poison of Nikolsky’s viper (Vipera berus nikolskii). The experiment was conducted on 20 white male rats. In the study, rats were divided into two groups — control and experimental. The poisoning was simulated by administering Nikolsky’s viper venom to rats of the experimental group intra-abdominally at a dose of ED50 of 0.972 μg/g. Histological preparations were examined under the SEO SCAN light microscope; the images were processed using the Vision CCD Camera with an existing system for displaying images on a computer monitor. It was found that severe intoxication of the body with the venom of the Nikolsky’s viper causes extensive destructive-dystrophic changes in the wall of the empty intestine, along with significant stromalvascular disorders. Poisonous hemotoxins increase vascular wall permeability and change intravascular coagulation processes, which leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DVS syndrome) and irreversible degeneration of small bowel structures in experiment.