Histological changes in the kidneys of experimental rats 3 hours after exposure to the venom of the scorpion Lei-urus macroctenus

Background. Throughout life, the human body interacts closely with environmental factors that can have either a positive or negative impact. The dynamic equilibrium between the organism and its environment results from the influence of natural, anthropogenic, and social factors. The action of any exogenous factors leads to the development of adaptive changes. Objective. To study the histological changes in the kidneys of rats three hours after exposure to the venom of the scorpion Leiurus macroctenus. Methods. The study involved 10 white male laboratory rats weighing 200 g (±10 g), reared in the vivarium of the Educational and Scientific Centre "Institute of Biology and Medicine" at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The venom of scorpions in the Buthidae family, genus Leiurus, species Leiurus macroctenus was administered to the rats once intramuscularly (0.5 ml of venom solution previously dissolved in saline; 28.8 μg/ml; LD50=0.08 mg/kg). For microscopic examination, kidney samples were collected from animals across all groups. Histological preparations of the kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Results and conclusion. The administration of the venom from the scorpion Leiurus macroctenus was associated with pronounced dystrophic changes in the structural components of the kidneys three hours after the commencement of the experimental study. The appearance of inflammatory processes within the organ interstitium, with infiltration by plasmacytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages, was observed. Vascular-hemodynamic disorders were also identified, manifesting as desquamation of the endothelial lining of the vascular wall and increased permeability of the vascular wall. The renal tubular apparatus exhibited features of tubular necrosis.