Pulmonary mechanic and lung histology injury induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom

In the present work we investigated the effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (CdtV) on the pulmonary mechanic events [static and dynamic elastance, resistive (ΔP1) and viscoelastic pressures (ΔP2)] and histology after intramuscular injection of saline solution (control) or venom (0.6 μg/g). The static and dynamic elastance values were increased significantly after 3 h of venom inoculation, but were reduced at control values in the other periods studied. The ΔP1 values that correspond to the resistive properties of lung tissue presented a significant increase after 6 h of CdtV injection, reducing to basal levels 12 h after the venom injection. In ΔP2 analysis, correspondent to viscoelastic components, an increase occurred 12 h after the venom injection, returning to control values at 24 h. CdtV also caused an increase of leukocytes recruitment (3–24 h) to the airways wall as well as to the lung parenchyma. In conclusion, C. durissus terrificus rattlesnake venom leads to lung injury which is reverted, after 24 h of inoculation.