Vitamins A and E reverse gasoline vapors-induced hematotoxicity and weight loss in female rats.

In this study, gasoline vapors-induced hematotoxicity, growth-depression and weight-loss reversal effect of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) was assessed in female Wistar albino rats. The rats were exposed to gasoline vapors (17.8 ± 2.6 cm(3)/h/m(3)/day), 6 hours/day, 6 days/week, for 20 weeks. Vitamins A and E at prophylactic dosage (400 and 200 IU/kg/day, respectively) were orally administered to the rats, separately, in the last 2 weeks of exposure. The levels of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), growth rate and weight gain in the rats exposed to the vapors were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared, respectively, to the levels obtained for control rats. On the other hand, the levels of white blood cells (WBCs) in the test rats were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared, respectively, with the level obtained for female control rats. These observations indicated that exposure to gasoline vapors may cause hematotoxicity, growth depression and weight loss in female rats. However, administration of vitamins A and E was observed to produce a significant recovery (p < 0.05) in hematotoxicity, growth depression and weight loss observed to be associated with exposure to gasoline vapors, although the rats administered with vitamin E were noted to respond more favorably than those administered with vitamin A. This suggests that although retinol and α-tocopherol may be used to reverse or prevent hematotoxicity, growth depression and weight loss in subjects exposed to gasoline vapors, the reversal potency of α-tocopherol is higher than that of retinol.

Effect of caffeine-coconut products interactions on induction of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in Wistar albino rats.

Effect of caffeine-coconut products interactions on induction of drug-metabolizing enzyme in Wistar albino rats was studied. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four groups: The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4.0 ml of distilled water). Groups 2 to 4 were treated for a 14-day period with 50 mg/kg body weight of caffeine, 50 mg/kg body weight of caffeine and 50 mg/kg body weight of coconut water, and 50 mg/kg body weight of caffeine and 50 mg/kg body weight of coconut milk in 4.0 ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. One day after the final exposure, the animals were anaesthetized by inhalation of an overdose of chloroform. The blood of each rat was collected by cardiac puncture while the liver of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, i.e., total protein and RNA levels, protein/RNA ratios, and activities of alanine and aspartate amino transferase (ALT and AST, respectively). The results showed that while ingestion of coconut milk and coconut water increased the values of protein and protein/RNA ratios, it decreased alanine and aspartate amino transferase (ALT and AST) activities. These effects, in turn, enhanced the induction of the metabolizing enzymes and a resultant faster clearance and elimination of the caffeine from the body, there by reducing the toxic effect on the liver.