Journal of Environmental Biology

Assessment of haematotoxic potential of mercuric chloride in rat

 

Kanhiya Mahour* and Prabhu N. Saxena

Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Khandari Campus,

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra - 282 002, India

(Received: February 13, 2008; Revised received: May 30, 2008; Accepted: July 29, 2008)

 

Abstract: The blood is an important liquid connective tissue flow in body and performs the role of distribution of oxygen to various tissues, taken out carbon dioxide and maintains the health status of an organism. Any change in the blood components can cause adverse effects on the body. The effect of mercuric chloride has been evaluated on blood in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). The albino rats were treated with mercuric chloride 0.926 mg kg^-1 body wt. for acute (1 day) and 0.044 mg kg^-1 body wt. for sub-acute (7, 14 and 21 day) sets after calculating LD₅₀ (9.26 mg kg^-1 body wt.). Major changes have been observed in the form of enhanced clotting time (CT) and bleeding time (BT) due to toxic effect of mercuric chloride on haemopoietic system along with decrease in the total erythrocyte count (TEC) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb. conc.). The changes in erythrocyte count and haemoglobin concentration have been correlated with cytotoxic effect of mercuric chloride on erythropoiesis. However, the intoxication of mercuric chloride on total leukocyte count (TLC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has been observed to be significantly increased after acute and sub-acute treatments due to leucocytosis and rouleux formation. Moreover, the present observations highlight dose dependent toxicity.

Key word: Total erythrocyte count, Erythrocyte sendimentation rate, Wintrobe?s tube, Neubaurer haemocytometer

 

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