QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ALTERATIONS IN THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MAMMALIAN ADRENAL CORTEX GLAND CAUSED BY THE VENEZUELAN BLACK RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus pifanorum) VENOM.

The venom of the black rattlesnake, Crotalus pifanorum, contains proteolytic enzymes, peptidases, proteinases, phospholipases and neurotoxins resulting in cytotoxic and neurotoxic effects. In addition, the venom similarly acts on adrenal glands of mice, as it was observed in the present study. The basic structures of the cortex cells from the glands are typical of steroid-producing cells. It has little rough endoplasmic reticulum, but abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, where numerous lipid inclusions and mitochondria usually rounded with tubular cristae were observed. From 3 until 24 h after the venom injection, mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear structure and microvasculature damages could be observed. This venom is highly toxic for the adrenal glands. The present results will help the physicians in evaluating the function of these glands in order to avoid fatal outcomes due to an acute suprarenal insufficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first report of adrenal gland damage in mice caused by the injection of C. pifanorum venom. Our results advise that adrenal cortex lesions may be significant in the envenoming etiopathogenesis caused by this venom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]