Naja nigricollis venom elicits repro-toxicity in organs of female rats: Clinical implications of snakebite envenoming on reproductive health.

Snake venoms toxins could exert toxicological effect with consequence on reproductive functions following snakebite envenoming. The clinical implications of snakebite envenoming on female reproductive health remains unraveled. This study used an animal model to evaluate the pathophysiological effects of Naja nigricollis venom on female reproductive organs. Thirty female albino rats were randomly selected into three groups (n = 10). Group 1 was the control injected with saline, while groups 2 and 3 were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg (LD25) and 1.0 mg/kg (LD50) of N. nigricollis venom, respectively. The venom lethal doses caused significant decrease in the body weight, organs and relative organs weight of the uterus, uterine tube and the ovary compared to the control. There was dysregulation in hormones secretion as serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in envenomed groups. The venom induced substantial oxidative stress evidenced by elevation of malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity, with a concomitant decrease of glutathione levels in the uterus, uterine tube and ovary of the envenomed rats. Inflammatory biomarkers of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the female reproductive organs of the envenomed rats. The venom modulated signaling pathways of protein transcription factors by suppressing Nrf2 activation while, inducing overexpression of NF-κB in the uterus, uterine tube and ovary of envenomed rats. Also, these tissues of the uterus, uterine tube and ovary showed severe pathohistological defects after envenomation. Our findings demonstrated that N. nigricollis envenoming inflicts clinical toxicity on overall female reproductive system.