Effects of the venoms of walterinnesia aegyptia and echis coloratus on solute levels in the plasma of albino rats

Abstract

The effect of LD 50injections of Walterinnesia aegyptia and Echis coloratus venoms on plasma solute levels in rats have been investigated. W. aegyptia venom caused significant increases in plasma sodium and urea level and osmolality, together with a significant decrease in plasma potassium level. Five days of venom injection caused similar rise in plasma sodium and urea levels. However, E. coloratus venom resulted in a significant reduction in plasma sodium..level together with a significant elevation in plasma urea concentrations and osmolality after 120 min. Five days of venom injection resulted in similar changes. Plasma potassium and chloride levels did not change significantly following E. coloratus venom injection after any time interval. The effects of the two snake venoms have been discussed in relation to their respective effects on the reabsorption of solutes by rat kidneys.