Feb-Apr.2012, Vol.2.No.2, 820-823. e- ISSN: 2249 –1929

Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences

An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences Available online at www.jcbsc.org Section B: Biological Sciences CODEN (USA): JCBPAT

Research Article

Effect of sulphur dioxide exposure on total count and haemoglobin concentration of albino rat Sanjeev Kumar Nigam * and Kavita Sharma *Department of Zoology, S.G.R.P.G. College, Dobhi, Jaunpur Received: 7 March; 2012; Revised: 20 March 2012; Accepted: 22 March 2012

ABSTRACT Total red blood cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin concentration of albino rats, Rattusnorvegicus (Berkenhout) were studied after exposure to 30ppm and 60ppm sulphur dioxide gas to 10 and 20 days for 1 hour per day. A significant decrease in total RBC count has been reported, while very highly significant decrease in the haemoglobin concentration was observed in albino rats after exposure to 30ppm and 60ppm sulphur dioxide gas.

Keywords: Sulphur dioxide gas, Albino rat, Red blood cell, Haemoglobin concentration .

INTRODUCTION Air pollution results from gaseous emissions from mainly industry, thermal power station, automobiles, domestic combustion etc. The chief gaseous pollutants are oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. Sulphur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent and irritating odour. Blood is a fluid connective tissue, consists of three formed elements, the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells have the ability to transport oxygen to various parts of the body for cellular respiration. Any change in the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin concentration can affect body metabolism. The present work has been undertaken to study the total RBC count and haemoglobin concentration of albino rats after exposure to sulphur dioxide gas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty adult healthy albino rats of both sexes, having similar weight and about same age and, which were bred at the animal house of Zoology Department, and were acclimatized to the laboratory conditions for one month prior to experiment, food and water was provided ad. Libitum. Albino rats were divided into

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Effect... Sanjeev Kumar Nigam and Kavita Sharma.

three groups (One control set and two experimental sets). Sulphur dioxide gas generator and fumigation chamber (Model-AP 07 SEF-120) were used for the exposure to albino rats.

Sulphur dioxide gas was generated by the gas generator with the help of sulphuric acid, as method of Singh and Rao 1 . Control set were exposed to ambient air, while experimental sets were exposed to 30ppm and 60ppm sulphur dioxide gas for one hour for 10 and 20 days respectively. During the experimental period temperature maintained at 25ºC ± 0.5ºC, relative humidity at 60 ± 5%.

At the end of inhalation period, after dissection of rat, blood was obtained directly from the ventricle of heart; anti-coagulated and hematological studies were carried out. Total RBC were counted with the help of improved standard Neubaur Heamocytometer(Dacie) 2 , and haemoglobin concentration measured by Standard Sahli’s method. The values were subjected to statistical analysis (Fischer and Yates) 3 and expressed as mean ±standard error.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION The mean values of total red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration of control and sulphur dioxide exposed rats are shows in Table-I and Fig-1&2. A significant decrease in total RBC count and haemoglobin concentration is due to the toxic action of the sulphur dioxide gas on red blood cells, which causes hemolytic resulting disruption of red cells with the escape of haemoglobin from the corpuscles to the plasma. Sulphur dioxide gas interfere with normal red cell metabolism and leads to the formation of sulfhemoglobin, which cannot combine reversibly with oxygen, thus lacking in oxygen carrying capacity. Similar to the present findings, Medeiros et al 4. have also observed a decrease in total RBC count due to hemolytic and hypochromic anemia in rats after exposure to sulphur dioxide gas. Present findings gain support with the findings of Nikolic et al 5. who reported a significant decrease in RBC count and haemoglobin concentration after exposure to sulphur dioxide. Buskurt et al 6. gave similar views regarding the oxidative damage in red blood cells of rat due to the inhalation of sulphur dioxide gas.

Table-I: Total RBC Count (x 10 12 /l) and haemoglobin concentration (gm/dl) in albino rats after exposure to sulphur dioxide gas

Control set Experimental sets (10) (10) Concentrations Exposure Parameter 30 ppm 60 ppm days Range Range Range Mean + S.Em. Mean + S.Em. Mean + S.Em.

7.40 – 9.87 6.54 – 8.89 6.80 – 8.02 10 8.80 + 0.223 7.51 + 0.217* ↓ 7.22 + 0.220* ↓

6.55 – 9.54 8.07 – 9.87 6.56 – 8.62 20 7.75 + 0.319* ↓ Total RBC count 8.97 + 0.186 7.46 + 0.220** ↓

11.9 – 14.6 13.4 – 14.5 11.0 – 15.1 10 13.47 + 0.254* ↓ 13.89 + 0.132 13.62 + 0.388* ↓

Haemoglobin concentration 13.5 – 15.8 11.9 – 14.5 11.2 – 14.0 20 14.30 + 0.226 13.41 + 0.237** ↓ 12.43 + 0.333**** ↓

ppm - Parts per million *- Non-significant S.Em. - Standard error of mean **- Significant (10) - No. of observations ****- Very highly significant ↓ - Decrease

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10

9

8

7 /l) 12 6

5

4 Control Total RBC Count 10 (x 3 30ppm 60ppm

2

1

0 10 days 20 days

Fig-1 Total RBC Count (x 10 12 /l) in albino rats after exposure to sulphur dioxide gas

14.5

14

13.5

13

12.5

Control 30ppm 12

Haemoglobin concentration (gm/dl) concentration Haemoglobin 60ppm

11.5

11 10 days 20 days

Fig-2 Haemoglobin concentration (gm/dl) in albino rats after exposure to sulphur dioxide gas

Further, as a result of sulphur dioxide gas inhalation and haemolysis may therefore be regarded as a continum of oxidative stress to red blood cells and caused anemic hypoxia(Rieder) 7 Similar to the present findings, Wintrobe et al. 8 reported that the oxidative denaturation of haemoglobin accompanies the formation of hydrogen peroxide which is highly toxic for the cell. Concentration dependent toxicity of sulphur dioxide gas in rat also reported by Yon et al 9.

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REFERENCES

1. N.Singh and D. N. Rao, In. J. Air Poll. Contr ., 1979. 2 (2), 55. 2. J.V.Dacie and S. M. Lewis, Practical , (5 th Ed.) J&A CharcHill Livingstone, Edinburg 1975. 3. R.A.Fischer and F. Yates, Statistical Table for Biological Agricultural and Medical research (6 th Ed.) Hing Yip Printing Co. Hongkong, 1963: 146. 4. M.H.G.Medeiros, E.J.H. Bechara, P. C. Naoum and C .A. Mourao, Arch. Environ. Health, 1983, 38 , 11. 5. M.Nikolic, D. Nikic and A. Stankovic, Polish. J. of Environ. Stud ., 2008, 17 (2), 267. 6. O.K. Baskurt, E.Levi, S.Caglayan, N.Dikmonoglu and M.N. Kutman, Arch. Environ. Health, 1990, 45 (4), 224. 7. R.L.Rieder, J. Clin. Invest., 1970, 49 , 2369. 8.M.M.Wintrobe, G.R. Lee, D. R. Boggs, T. C. Bithell, J. Foerester, J. W. Athens and J.N. Lukens, Clinical Hematology (8 th Ed.) Lee and Febiger, Philadelphia. 1981 1882. 10. Y. Yang, L. Hou, N. Sang, J. of Hazardous Materials .2010, 185 (1): 482.

*Correspondence Author: Sanjeev Kumar Nigam; Department of Zoology, S.G.R.P.G. College, Dobhi, Jaunpur(INDIA)

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