The toxic effect of an acute dose of Walterinnesia aegyptia crude venom was studied in male albino
rats. Liver enzymes,alaninetransaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma glutamyltransferase(γ-GT),
total protein concentration and Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) enzyme activity in the liver, abdominal muscles and
cerebrum brain were measured at timed intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 72 h and 7 days post envenomation. The
histological changes in the liver sections were simultaneously investigated. These parameters were found to be
fluctuated with time, with a tendency to regain to normal control levels within the first 6 h. Histological changes
induced by treatment with LD50 of W. aegyptia crude venom in liver 3 to 6 hours post envenomation showed
inflammatory cellular infiltrations(ICI) around the hepatic vein, dilated blood sinusoids (S), hepatocyticvacuolations
(HV) and prominent van kuffer cells. The 12 to 24 h period seems to be crucial for the process of physiological
recovery. Histological changes induced by treatment with LD50 of W. aegyptia crude venom in liver 12, 24, 72 hrs to
7 days post envenomation showed hepatocytic-vacuolations, inflammatory cellular infiltration and dilated sinusoids.
Under higher magnification, marginal chromatin (mc) patterns appear in some hepatocytes and clumped chromatin
(cm) in others. With this same group, liver sections taken at 72 h and at 7 days showed increased inflammation and
vacuolation as evidenced by an increase in inflammatory cells, some pyknotic cells (Pn), widened sinusoids and
numerous van Kupffer cells. Fatty change or Steatosis(St) represents the intracytoplasmic accumulation of
triglycerides (neutral fats) of parenchymal organs. Physiological adaptation and recovery from an LD50 venom dose
seems to be achieved after one week, leaving the animal alive with several lesions especially in the liver (such as
pyknotic nuclei, steatosis and clumped chromatin and disturbed physiological profile).