Assessment of haematotoxic potential of mercuric chloride in rat

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.