Morphological state of lungs of rats under the influence of Vipera berus berus venom

Abstract

About 5.4 million snake bite cases are registered worldwide every year. About half of them cause 81,000-138,000 deaths or disabled 400,000 people. Despite this, this problem is neglected in many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is believed that death from snakebites is associated with poverty since the lack of proper access to medical facilities in such sections of the population causes the development of fatal complications. The purpose of the study is to study the morphological state of rats' lungs under exposure to Vipera berus berus venom. Experimental studies were carried out on white, non-linear male rats. Animals were conditionally divided into control and experimental groups, ten individuals each. Experimental rats were injected intraperitoneally with a semi-lethal dose (LD50) (1.576 mg/g-1) of Vipera berus berus venom in a physiological solution. Animals of the control group were injected intraperitoneally with only a physiological solution. Rats were removed from the experiment 24 hours after exposure to the poison and anaesthetized by cervical dislocation. Lung tissue samples were taken for microscopic examination. Fixation of the material and preparation of paraffin blocks were carried out according to generally accepted methods. Staining of histological preparations of the lungs was carried out with hematoxylin and eosin, according to Masson, and the PAS+"Hale" reaction was carried out according to the Mowry method. Histological preparations were studied using an SEO SСAN light microscope. The toxic effect of Vipera berus berus venom caused significant changes in the vascular, stromal and parenchymal components, which was confirmed by histological, histochemical and morphometric data. In the lungs of experimental animals, the vascular bed is primarily restructured, forming coagulopathies and thrombosis. The development of DIC syndrome and haemorrhages accompanies an increase in the permeability of the vessel wall. Inflammatory phenomena are found in the bronchi and respiratory departments' walls. There is a remodelling of the respiratory department components, with the formation of significant areas of dis- and atelectasis and zones of emphysema, which is confirmed morphometrically.