Biomaterial Database

Pathogenesis of hemorrhage induced by rattlesnake venom. An electron microscopic study. 1974

C L Ownby, and R A Kainer, and A T Tu

The pathogenesis of hemorrhage induced by rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) venom was investigated at the electron microscopic level. Swiss-Webster white mice were injected intramuscularly with one-fifth the LD(50) dose of whole venom. Muscle samples were obtained by biopsy 2 minutes, 30 minutes and 3 hours after venom injection. Capillaries in the endomysium were in various stages of degeneration. Endothelial cells of damaged capillaries contained dilatated endoplasmic reticulum and perinuclear space, and, in many cases, swollen cytoplasm. Blebbing of endothelial cytoplasm of swollen and nonswollen cells was observed. These changes were followed by rupture of the plasma membrane which resulted in the subsequent extravasation of blood. Platelet aggregations plugged gaps in vessel walls and often completely occluded the lumina of capillaries. The experimental injection of rattlesnake venom induced hemorrhage by rhexis. The same or a similar pathogenesis is probably responsible for hemorrhage which occurs in actual snakebite cases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007273	Injections, Intramuscular	Forceful administration into a muscle of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the muscle and any tissue covering it.	Intramuscular Injections,Injection, Intramuscular,Intramuscular Injection
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D010973	Platelet Adhesiveness	The process whereby PLATELETS adhere to something other than platelets, e.g., COLLAGEN; BASEMENT MEMBRANE; MICROFIBRILS; or other "foreign" surfaces.	Adhesiveness, Platelet,Adhesivenesses, Platelet,Platelet Adhesivenesses
D002196	Capillaries	The minute vessels that connect arterioles and venules.	Capillary Beds,Sinusoidal Beds,Sinusoids,Bed, Sinusoidal,Beds, Sinusoidal,Capillary,Capillary Bed,Sinusoid,Sinusoidal Bed
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D003593	Cytoplasm	The part of a cell that contains the CYTOSOL and small structures excluding the CELL NUCLEUS; MITOCHONDRIA; and large VACUOLES. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990)	Protoplasm,Cytoplasms,Protoplasms
D004106	Dilatation	The act of dilating.	Dilation,Dilatations,Dilations
D004721	Endoplasmic Reticulum	A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D004727	Endothelium	A layer of epithelium that lines the heart, blood vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, VASCULAR), lymph vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, LYMPHATIC), and the serous cavities of the body.	Endotheliums