Histological organization of the spleen of rats under conditions of acute intoxication with viper venom Vipera berus berus

The immune system plays an important role in the body's response to numerous environmental factors, including snake venom toxins. The composition of snake venom and the specifics of its effect on the human body are quite diverse. The predominance of one or another component of the toxin becomes decisive for the appearance of complications or even death. The study aims to study the peculiarities of the histological organization of the spleen of rats under conditions of acute intoxication with Vipera berus berus viper venom. Experimental studies were carried out on white, non-linear male rats. The animals were conditionally divided into a control and an experimental group of 10 individuals. 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 anaesthetised by cervical dislocation. Spleen samples were taken for microscopic examination. Fixation of the material and preparation of paraffin blocks were carried out according to generally accepted methods. Histological preparations of the spleen were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histological preparations were studied using an SEO SСAN light microscope. Acute intoxication with Vipera berus berus viper venom was associated with disorganization of the white pulp of the spleen of experimental animals, which manifested itself in the form of a loss of clarity and orderliness of the placement of its structural elements, poor visualization of the marginal zone of lymphoid nodules. An increase in the number of lymphoblasts characterized the germinal centres. Areas of spleen tissue destruction and hemorrhage were noted in the red pulp of the organ. The presence of foci of lymphocyte apoptosis, thickening of trabeculae, stasis and sludge of erythrocytes in the lumen of trabecular veins was also observed. Thus, under the influence of Vipera berus berus venom, disorganization of the white pulp is observed at the structural level of the rat spleen, and areas of organ destruction, lymphocyte apoptosis, and connective tissue proliferation are noted in the red pulp.