B.S. SHARMA, NIBHA RATHORE AND ASHA AGARWAL
Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine the role of vitamin E on selected hematological parameters -Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Hemoglobin Concentration (Hb. Conc.), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), and Red Cell Indices- MCV, MCH, MCHC in cigarette smoke exposed male wistar albino rats. Experimental rats (150-200g) were kept in standard laboratory conditions and grouped into three sets Control set (A) was exposed to ambient air, Experimental set (B) was exposed to cigarette smoke for 1 hour/day and Experimental set (C) was exposed to cigarette smoke with preexposure supplementation of vitamin E for eight weeks. The results of the present study imply that hematological parameters altered after cigarette smoke inhalation and lead to elevation in TEC, Hb Conc., PCV, while reduction in red cell indices in albino rats. However, cigarette smoke induced hematological alterations are modulated after supplementation of vitamin E due to antioxidant defense mechanism against toxic action of cigarette smoke.