Histopathologic study in rats’pancreas after injection of venom from the scorpion Tityus serrulatus

Abstract

Modifications in the tenor of several components of the pancreatic secretion and histopathologic alterations of rats’pancreas are noticed after injection of venom from the scorpion Tityus serrulatus. Among those alterations, acute and chronic pancreatites can be mentioned after an only venom injection. The compatible discoveries with acute pancreatites are found from 10 minutes on after the intoxication, and, 20 days later, most of the animals show histologic findings typical of chronic pancreatites. The aim of the present study was to determine the kinetics of the pancreatic alterations that occur after the intravenous injection of non-purified venom scorpion in rats. After the animals fast for 24-48 hours, 0,2 ml of a solution of chloride of sodium (group control) or 0,2 ml of a solution containing 300 mg/ml of non-purified venom scorpion Tityus serrulatus (60 mg/animal) were injected directly into their penis vein. They were sacrificed in groups from 5 to 10 each, every 10, 20 and 40 minutes and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 days after the injection. The pancreas was removed and processed for histologic study. Acute pancreatite (PA) was observed in the groups sacrificed 10, 20 and 40 minutes, 24 and 48 hours after the injection. Compatible discoveries with chronic pancreatites (PC) were detected in the animals sacrificed between 4 and 20 days after the injection. In the group of animals sacrificed 3 days later, characteristic alterations of PA (desgranulation, acinar vacuolation, diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and granulomatoses lesions) were observed in the same animal and sometimes in the same histologic piece, and, surprisingly, alterations of PC (dilation ductal with proteics rolhas, hyperplase ductal and hyperplasia of the peripancreatic linphnodes) were also observed, characterizing the transition phase from the acute pancreatites to the chronic pancreatites. All the groups presented mast cells mobilization and degranulation suggesting the participation of mast cells in the etiopathogenese of those lesions. In 50% of the animals of the groups sacrificed on the 18th and 20th days after the venom, hyperplase of the islets of Langerhans were also observed, besides inflammatory lesions.