The effect of Hemiscorpius lepturus venom on pathologic changes of Rat organs

Abstract

Background: Hemiscorpius lepturus is one of the dangerous scorpions in the world and also in Iran. This kind of scorpion in southern provinces, especially in Khoozestan, has been responsible for stinging a lot of people that resulted in long-standing and dangerous side effects and sometimes mortality. As the study of the effects of this scorpion venom on some laboratory animals can determine the action mechanism and help us to cure people stung by scorpion. So this study has been done on the effects of Hemiscorpius lepturus venom on pathologic change of Rat organs. Materials and methods: An experimental study has been done on 101 Rats of the same race with approximate age of 2-3 months, and 200-250gr weight. They were divided to groups, control and experimental. 0.1CC physiology serum was injected to everyone of the control group skin and 0.1CC physiology serum with one microlitre of fresh Hemiscorpius lepturus venom to everyone of experimental group. Then the local changes or ulcers, before and after injection, have been analyzed by statistical test of Fisher exact test. The tissues of liver, kidney and spleen were removed in autopsy and they were studied and compared by microscope to determine their pathologic changes. Results: The results of study have shown that the injection of Hemiscorpius lepturus veniom into rat skins caused the ulcers in 55% of them, 70.6% pathologic changes were occurred in liver, 35.3% in kidney and 27% in spleen. The pathologic changes in these organs, inclusing haemorrage, congestion, necrosis were from were from severe to mild. Conclusion: The heiscorpius lepturus venom has some effects on skin injury or ulcer and pathologic changes in liver, kidney and spleen of rats. The study of skin injuries and pathologic changes in different organs on human cases in Biopsy and Autopsy can lead to diagnosis of the effect of this venom on human being and consequently suitable cure for the injured.