Effects of oral administration of antioxidant taurine on haematological parameters in Wistar rats
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P Anand1, D Rajakumar, A John William Felix
1Department of Physiology, Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, Tamilnadu, India.
Abstract:
The present study evaluates the effects of oral administration of taurine on haematological parameters in normal wistar rats. Tissue oxidative stress is implicated in pathogenesis of various clinical disorders and antioxidant taurine is emerging as prophylactic and therapeutic agent. However, studies on effects of taurine on normal physiology are not reported in literature. Normal saline (Group I) or 5% taurine in normal saline was administered in dose of 50 mg (Group II), 250 mg (Group III) or 500 mg kg(-1) of b.wt. (Group IV) through intragastric intubation for 60 days. The blood cell counts, haemoglobin content, packed cell volume, blood indices, bleeding time and clotting time were estimated using routine laboratory haematological techniques. Neutrophil's phagocytic activity was determined by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test; serum lysozyme activity was estimated colorimetrically by the degree to lyse bacterial cell suspension and serum taurine levels were estimated by HPLC fluorimetric technique. Platelet count showed a decrease in Group III and IV when compared with Group I and II (p<0.001). Mean corpuscular haemoglobin of Group III and IV are significantly lowered when compared to Group I (p<0.001). A statistically significant decrease was observed in the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration between Group 1 and Group IV (p<0.001). The neutrophil percentage of Group II, Group III and Group IV showed a significant increase over Group I (p<0.001). The percentage of lymphocytes showed a significant decrease in Group II, III and Group IV when compared to Group I (p<0.001). Neutrophil's phagocytic activity is significantly lowered in Group III and IV when compared to Group I (p<0.001). The serum lysozyme activity of Group III and IV showed a significant increase over Group I (at p<0.001). From the present study it may be concluded that long term oral administration of taurine affects normal haematological functions.
