POSTER PRESENTATIONS

BACKGROUND: Snake envenomation is a serious medical burden in rural tropical countries which may lead to Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The only existing treatment of envenomation - anti-snake venom (ASV); is not always effective against AKI. So; alternative strategies are needed to overcome this problem.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to investigate whether carnosine; an already studied molecule against AKI of different etiologies; could provide protective effects on Russell's viper venom (RVV) induced AKI.

METHODS: Control group received normal saline intramuscularly (i.m). Venom group received RVV at a dose of 30 µgm/100 gm BW i.m. Treatment group received daily oral carnosine supplementation. After 72 hr; animals were sacrificed. Plasma and urinary creatinine and urinary microprotein concentration were measured. Plasma and renal oxidative stress parameters such as Total Oxidative stress (TOS); Total Antioxidant Status (TAS); Nitric Oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were measured. Renal histology was done with Hematoxylin & eosin and picrosirius red staining. Immunohistochemistry was done with anti-CTGF; TGF-β; α-SMA antibody. Images were analyzed with imageJ image analysis software. Data were represented as mean ± standard error of mean.

RESULTS: Carnosine treatment significantly normalized venom induced alterations in plasma and urinary creatinine and urinary micro-protein concentration. It also significantly reduced plasma and renal TOS; MDA and NO concentration and increased TAS as compared to venom treated group. Picrosirius red stained slides revealed decreased collagen deposition with carnosine treatment. Venom treatment significantly increased renal fibrotic markers such as CTGF; TGF-β; α-SMA which is reduced after carnosine treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: From the present investigation it can be concluded that carnosine has role in ameliorating snake venom induced Inflammation; acute kidney injury and onset of fibrosis and therefore it can be considered as effective therapy. Further study is required for understanding its clinical potential.