MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ADRENAL GLANDS OF RATS THREE HOURS AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE VENOM OF LEIURUS MACROCTENUS SCORPION

Authors:

Abstract:

Morphological examination of the adrenal glands of rats three hours after administration of Leiurus macroctenus scorpion venom revealed a marked progression of pathological alterations compared with earlier experimental time points. In the zona glomerulosa of the cortex, nuclear deformation, loss of the orderly arrangement of cellular clusters, and the appearance of intracellular edema were observed. The cytoplasm of endocrine cells lost its homogeneity, became granular, and exhibited perinuclear clear zones indicative of endoplasmic reticulum destabilization. In the zona fasciculata, a combination of physiological and pathological cellular hypertrophy was detected, accompanied by increasing intra- and extracellular edema. The nuclei of some cells were in stages of karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis, indicating the development of necrobiotic processes. In the zona reticularis, moderate hypertrophy, cytoplasmic basophilia, focal areas of edema, and infiltration by immunocytes were recorded. In the medullary substance, early manifestations of destruction were noted, including swelling of chromaffin cells, loss of distinct cellular boundaries, and nuclear deformation. The vessels of both the cortex and medulla exhibited signs of congestion, with aggregates of erythrocytes in their lumina. The capsule of the gland was characterized by moderate loosening of collagen fibers and morphological alterations in fibroblasts.

Keywords:

anatomy histology adrenal glands laboratory rats venom of the scorpion Leiurus macroctenus

References:

1. Abdel-Rahman MA, Omran MA, Abdel-Nabi IM, Abdalla ME, Elelemi AH. Hormonal alterations elicited by the scorpion venom of Scorpio maurus palmatus, in vivo study. Egyptian Society of Clinical Toxicology Journal. 2023 Jun 1;11(1):1-11.
2. Alatrash FM. The Metabolic Effects of Scorpion Sting in Children. Mathews Journal of Forensic Research. 2024 Feb 5;5(1):1-4. doi: 10.30654/MJFR.10013.
3. Bhattacharya S, Krishnamurthy A, Gopalakrishnan M, Kalra S, Kantroo V, Aggarwal S, et al. Endocrine and metabolic manifestations of snakebite envenoming. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2020 Jun 29;103(4):1388. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0161.
4. Dehghani R, Fathi B, Dehghani M, Mohamadzadeh N. Venomous and poisonous arthropods in Iran, West Asia, and the Middle East: an overview of their identification, bites, stings, behavior, biology and geographical distribution. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology. 2025 Mar 1;17(1):1-36. doi: 10.22067/ijvst.2025.92244.1483.
5. Finol HJ, García E, González R, Sanchez EE, Rodríguez-Acosta A. Qualitative and Quantitative Ultrastructural Analysis of the Mitochondria from Adrenal Gland Cortex Under the Action of Viperidae family Snake Venoms. International Journal of morphology. 2020;38(5):1271-80. doi: 10.4067/S0717-95022020000501271.
6. Gunas V, Maievskyi O, Raksha N, Vovk T, Savchuk O, Shchypanskyi S, et al. Study of the Acute Toxicity of Scorpion Leiurus macroctenus Venom in Rats. The Scientific World Journal. 2024;(1):9746092. doi: 10.1155/2024/9746092.
7. Jaberhashemi SA, Amiri Z, Norouzi M, Shahi M. Epidemiological factors and indicators related to venomous bites and stings in high-risk areas of southern Iran. Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2023 Jul 10;10(1):36-47.
8. Kadi K, El-Zahran T, Badr M, Mdaihly M, Ahmad N, Berri A, et al. Challenges and management of venomous bites and scorpion stings in Lebanon: a qualitative study. Frontiers in Public Health. 2025 Jun 2;13:1585250. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1585250.
9. Kilonzi M, Makoye PM, Aiko B, Hyuha G, Kiwango G, Nyamle N, et al. Venomous bites and stings in rural Tanzania: a retrospective cohort study. Toxicology Communications. 2025 Dec 31;9(1):2574795. doi: 10.1080/24734306.2025.2574795.
10. Kobzina-Didukh DS, Fomina LV, Tiron OI, Galunko GM, Sprut OV, Vasenko TB, et al. Histological changes in the adrenal glands of rats one hour after exposure to the venom of Leiurus macroctenus scorpions. Reports of Morphology. 2025;31(3):5-12. doi: 10.31393/morphology-journal-2025-31(3)-01.
11. Koshki N, Razi Jalali M, Fatemi Tabatabaei SR, Jafari H. Study the effects of Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom fractions on the levels of Glucose and Insulin, Glucagon and Cortisol Hormones in rats. Iranian Veterinary Journal. 2024 Jul 22;20(2):82-91. doi: 10.22055/ivj.2024.434558.2673.
12. Niyazmetov ТS. Changes in the microscopic organisation of rat adrenal glands under the influence of Vipera berus berus venom. Reports of Morphology. 2023 Sep 5;29(3):45-51. doi: 10.31393/morphology-journal-2023-29(3)-07.
13. Paolino G, Di Nicola MR, Avella I, Mercuri SR. Venomous bites, stings and poisoning by European vertebrates as an overlooked and emerging medical problem: recognition, clinical aspects and therapeutic management. Life. 2023 May 23;13(6):1228. doi: 10.3390/life13061228.
14. Sánchez EE, González R, Lucena S, García S, Finol HJ, Suntravat M, et al. Crotamine-like from Southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) Venom acts on human leukemia (K-562) cell lines and produces ultrastructural changes on mice adrenal gland. Ultrastructural pathology. 2018 Mar 4;42(2):116-23. doi: 10.1080/01913123.2017.1422827.
15. Sugimoto R, Kenzaka T, Nishisaki H. Hyponatremia due to adrenal insufficiency after a Mamushi bite: a case report. BMC Endocrine Disorders. 2023 Oct 11;23(1):219. doi: 10.1186/s12902-023-01466-4.

Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 21 No. 94 (2025) , с. 183-188
УДК 616.514-037:572.087+612-071

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2025-4-94-183-188