Effects of Vitamin E on Phostoxin-Induced Changes on the Hematological Parameters and Lungs of Adult Wistar Rats

The effects of Vitamin E on Phostoxin-induced changes on the hematological indices and the histology of the lungs in adult Wistar rats were studied. Thirty adult Wistar rats were obtained and acclimatized for three weeks and were randomly divided into six (6) groups of five rats each. Group 1, was the Control and was given distill water while Group 2 was exposed to Phostoxin for one and half hours and administered Vitamin E at a concentration of 112mg/kg body weight. Group 3 was exposed to phostoxin for three hours and was administered with Vitamin E at concentration of 112mg/kg body weight while, Group 4 was exposed to phostoxin only for three hours. Group 5 was exposed to phostoxin only for one and half hours while Group 6 was administered with Vitamin E only at the concentration of 112mg/kg body weight. The administration lasted for seven days after which the rats were sacrificed after anesthetizing them with chloroform. Blood was collected in containers for hematological analysis while the lungs were harvested and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The lung tissues were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson Trichrome stains. The results showed non-significant reductions in the hematological indices in phostoxin treated animals with reduced effects in rats co-administered phostoxin with Vitamin E. The results of histological observations revealed damages to the alveolar sacs, loss of lung cells and reduction in elastic fibers while rats co-treated with Vitamin E, showed reduced damages in the tissues of the lung. The results of the present study showed that Vitamin E have some level of protection on phostoxin-induced toxicity on the lung tissues and hematological parameters of the adult Wistar rats.

Key Words: Vitamin E; Phostoxin; hematological indices; Lungs; Wistar rats