Influence of hydrocortisone on the microscopic changes produced by Naja nigricollis venom in kidney, liver and spleen

The effects of N. nigricollis venom, in sublethal multiple doses, on the kidney, liver and spleen were demonstrated in mice. The kidney showed degenerative changes in the tubular system together with cellular infiltration. In the liver, there was vacuolization and fatty degeneration of the parenchymal cells, together with round cellular infiltration around the bile ducts. The microscopic changes in the spleen consisted of hyperplasia of the lymph follicles as evidenced by the large number of lymphoblasts. After hydrocortisone, the renal tubules exhibited more vacuolization and round cell infiltration. The changes induced by the venom in the liver were ameliorated by hydrocortisone. In the spleen, hydrocortisone caused a marked increase in the number of megakaryocytes.