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The pathophysiological effects of Russell's viper venom (RVV) and its fractions, including phospholipase A2 (RvPLA2), metalloprotease (RvMP), L-amino acid oxidase (RvLAAO), and phosphodiesterase (RvPDE) on renal functions were investigated using the isolated perfused rabbit kidney (IPK) model. Moreover, whether their effects on renal alterations were promoted by platelet activating factor (PAF) was tested using the PAF receptor antagonist, WEB 2086. There was a marked reduction in the perfusion pressure (PP) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) 10 min after RVV administration (1.0 mg/100 ml of perfusate), thereafter both PP and RVR gradually increased and approached the control level within 90 min. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with WEB2086 (2 μg/μl). Administration with RvPLA2 (280 μg/ml), RvMP (280 μg/ml), or RvLAAO (135 μg/ml) alone increased both the PP and RVR, whereas RvPDE (100 μg/ml) reduced both the PP and RVR. Pretreatment with WEB 2086 completely abolished the effects induced by RvMP, but not the other fractions. The RVV also caused a marked decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary flow rate (UF), and osmolar clearance (Cosm), and these effects were not inhibited by pretreatment with WEB2086. Each RVV fraction also increased, to varying extents, the GFR, UF, and Cosm, and these effects induced by RvPLA2 or RvMP, but not the other fractions, were completely blocked by WEB 2086. Changes in percent filtered Na+ and K+ excreted in the IPK by RVV, RvPDE, and RvMP were abolished by pretreatment with WEB 2086. Histological evaluation profiled mainly tubulonephrosis in the treated kidney. These results reveal that the alterations in renal functions induced by RVV and its fractions are due to the synergistic action of the different components of snake venom, instead of the action of a single component. The effects of RVV and its fractions in rabbit IPK are mediated at least in part by PAF.