Dynamic Changes in Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Level in Rat’s Tissues with Macrovipera lebetina obtusa and Montivipera raddei Venom Intoxication

We investigated the balance of free radicals in different tissues (liver, heart, brain and muscle) of rats in course of in vivo and in vitro processing by Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (MLO) and Montivipera raddei (MR) snake venoms. Chemiluminescence (ChL) levels were examined in tissue assays after incubation (at 37 °C for a period of 10 min) with venom for in vitro experiments and in tissue assays isolated of 10 min after venom injection for in vivo experiments. The TBA-test was also performed to confirm the free radical expression. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in isolated tissues were detected by spectro-photometry. During the in vitro processing chemiluminescence levels of tissue homogenates significantly decreased, while in course of in vivo intoxication the level of ChL was elevated in brain and liver; lipid peroxidation also increased in brain tissue, but there was no significant balance change in other tissues; the activity of superoxide dismutase mainly correlated with changes of free radical balance during intoxication. On the contrary, the activity of glutathione peroxidase showed the reverse tendencies to change. We suggest that free radicals and their oxidative stresses may play a role in the early stage of intoxication causing the so-named “spreading-effect”, which is very characteristic for the venom of vipers.