[Effects of Bothrops alternatus venom of Argentina on muscle and different organs in mices].

Bothrops alternatus venom was inoculated in gastrocnemius muscle of mice between 18 and 20g. The dose was 50 micrograms in 0.1 ml in ClNa 0.85% solution. Groups of 5 animals were sacrified between 3, 6 and 12 hours after inoculation. Hystopathology was performed with muscle and different organs fixed with Bouin. The venom reproduced a local inflammatory reaction. Histopathology observations of muscle revealed myolytic and coagulative necrosis. There and six hours after inoculation, hepatocellular degeneration and tumefaction in area of central veins was observed. In kidneys there were cortical congestion and hydropic tumefaction of proximal and distal tubules. There were no anormality in heart, lung and brain.