KIDNEY FUNCTION IN HABU VENOM NEPHROPATHY IN RATS

The injection of Habu snake venom into rats has been discussed as a useful model for studying focal mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis(GN) (Cattell et al. Am.J.Pathol.87:511[1977]).Morphological,immune fluorescence and clearance studies were performed for further characterisation of this model.50 inbred Lewis rats received 3.3mg/kg Habu venom i.v.Three different phases of response could be observed:I.One to 12hrs after injection shock,coagulopathy,hemolysis and thrombocytopenia occurred suggesting DIC.Mortality rate was high (40%),many organs showed hemostasis and diffuse bleeding.Mesangiolyis was not observed.II.One to 3d after injection blood pressure,coagulation and thrombocytes returned to normal levels.Kidney function remained normal.Mortality was low.Mesangiolysis was rare.III.Four to 30d after injection kidney function did not differ from controls although there was focal mesangial hypercellularity.Glomerular immune fluorescence was negative for IgM, IgG and C3 during all three stages of Habu nephropathy. Habu venom induced a variety of alterations in rats including shock,DIC,vasculopathy and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis,however,kidney function did not show acute or chronic deterioration.