The effect of scorpion envenomation on the different organs of albino mice.

The effect of sublethal doses of scorpion venom (Buthus quinquestriatus) on the hepatic vascular bed and hepatic parenchyma were studied. The main toxic effect of the venom was primarily on the vascular bed of the liver as manifested by dilatation of branches of the hepatic artery, portal vein together with intravascular thrombi and subcapsular haemorrhages. Apart from mild hydropic degeneration some cells of the hepatic parenchyma showed focal necrosis and Kupffer cells were frequently hypertrophied and contained pigment. In the lung, dilated thrombosed vessels were observed. In the kidney, the vessels showed the same changes. The epithelial and endothelial cells of the glomeruli appeared normal except for slight swelling with intact basement membrane. The tubular cells were swollen with increased granularity and attenuation of the tubular lumen, a picture compatible with hydropic degeneration. The possible mechanisms in inducing such lesions were discussed.