Document Details

Document Type : Article In Journal 
Document Title :
Effect of Snake Venoms from Saudi cobras and Vipers on Hormonal Levels in Peripheral Blood.
Effect of Snake Venoms from Saudi cobras and Vipers on Hormonal Levels in Peripheral Blood.
 
Document Language : English 
Abstract : Objective: Knowledge about the effects of snake venoms on endocrine glands in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is meager. The aim of the present study is to investigate the acute and chronic envenomation from 4 snakes out of 8 species of Saudi Cobras and Vipers on the tissues of endocrine glands and peripheral hormonal levels in male rats. Methods: The peripheral blood levels of 4 hormones mainly testosterone, cortisol, insulin and thyroxin were investigated in male Wistar rats following acute and chronic treatment of the rats with poisonous snake venoms at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul-Aziz Univeristy, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between September 2000 to May 2001. Results: Using radio immunoassay for hormonal analysis, a rise in testosterone levels in peripheral blood was obtained following acute treatment, which is due to the effect of the venoms on vascular permeability and increased blood flow. In contrast, the chronic treatment with venoms resulted in a delayed effect on vascular permeability and testicular degeneration resulting in a decreased blood flow and a significant drop in testosterone concentration. Cortisol levels were no different than from the controls during acute treatment but it demonstrates gradual rise following chronic treatment to withstand the stress imposed the animals. Similar results were obtained for insulin, which showed normal values with acute treatment but decreased levels of chronic treatment suggesting insulin insufficiently. Likewise, the thyroxin levels were decreased chronic treatment suggesting a toxic effect of the poison on the rich blood supply of the thyroid follicles with a subsequent decrease in blood flow to the tissues and therefore, decreased thyroid hormone levels. Conclusion: The effects of venom toxicity on testosterone levels were either normal or stimulatory with acute treatment or inhibitory with chronic treatment depending in the vascular blood flow and testicular degeneration. Cortisol levels were normal at acute treatment but showed a gradual rise reflecting the stress imposed on the animals. The rise in cortisol levels was visualized to potentiate the cardiovascular and metabolic changes. The effects on insulin and thyroxin were similar to those of testosterone level showing normal or stimulatory effect with acute treatment followed by decreased levels of hormones with chronic treatment. 
ISSN : 0930-2794 
Journal Name : Saudi Medical Journal 
Volume : 25 
Issue Number : 8 
Publishing Year : 2004 AH
2004 AD 
Article Type : Article 
Added Date : Monday, March 15, 2010 

Researchers

Researcher Name (Arabic)Researcher Name (English)Researcher TypeDr GradeEmail
خضر عبدالجليلAbdel Galil, Khidir ResearcherDoctorate 

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