The Effect of Venom of Egyptian Spitting Cobra Naja nubiae on Vascular Permeability of Hepatic and Renal Tissues

Among venomous elapid snakes, cobras have the highest public awareness, as their venom represents a combination of proteins, peptides, and enzymes that have a range of biochemical and pharmacological roles and are also the main constitutes of biological activity and lethal toxicity.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the venom of Egyptian Spitting Cobra, Naja nubiae, on the vascular permeability based on the extravasation of the azo dye Evans blue (EB) into the tissues of the liver and kidneys of animals envenomed with low (¼ LD50; 0.32 mg/kg) and high (½ LD50; 0.65 mg/ kg) doses at three sampling times (30, 120, 360 min) post-injection of the venom.

Fifty-four adult male Albino rats (8 weeks old and 180±2 0 g body weight) were divided into three main groups (n=6). In the control group, rats were subcutaneously (SC) injected with saline solution. Envenomed groups were SC injected, one group with 0.32 mg/kg and the other group with 0.65 mg/kg body weight of crude venom, respectively. Rats were I.V injected with EB dye 20 minutes before SC injection with saline solution as control animals and with Naja nubiae venom as treatment groups.

The results illustrated a high significant rate of EB extravasation to hepatic and renal tissues by the colorimetric determination of EB dye concentration.

The venom of Naja nubiae can cause increased hepatic and renal vascular permeability which may explain the inflammatory effect induced by this venom.