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International Journal of Pharmacology

Year: 2008 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 40-45
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Authors

F.E. Uboh

M.I. Akpanabiatu

I.J. Atangwho

P.E. Ebong

I.B. Umoh

Keywords

Research Article

Effect of Vitamin A on Weight-Loss and Haematotoxicity Associated with Gasoline Vapours Exposure in Wistar Rats

F.E. Uboh, M.I. Akpanabiatu, I.J. Atangwho, P.E. Ebong and I.B. Umoh
The effect of vitamin A on weight-loss, growth-depression and haematotoxicity associated with gasoline vapours exposure was assessed in male and female Wistar albino rats. The rats were exposed to ungraded concentrations of gasoline vapours (6 h daily) for 20 weeks. Vitamin A (retinol) at prophylactic dosage (400 IU kg-1 day-1) was orally administered to the rats in the last two weeks of exposure. The levels of haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit or Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red Blood Cells (RBC), weight gain and growth rate in the male and female rats exposed to the vapours were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared respectively to the levels obtained for male and female control rats. On the other hand, the levels of White Blood Cells (WBC) in the male and female test rats were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared respectively with the level obtained for male and female control rats. These observations indicated that exposure to gasoline vapours produced haematotoxicity, weight loss and growth depression in rats. However, administration of vitamin A was observed to produce a significant regain (p<0.05) in weight-loss, growth-depression and haematotoxicity observed to be associated with exposure to gasoline vapours, although the females were noted to respond more favourably than the males. This suggests that vitamin A may be used to reverse or prevent weight-loss, growth-depression and haematotoxicity in subjects exposed to gasoline vapours.
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