Vitamin E Reduces Hypobaric Hypoxia-Induced Immune Responses in Male Rats

In hypobaric hypoxia (HH) at high altitude, the immune responses are changed probably due to oxidative stress-induced production of free radicals and nonradicals. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and protects the cells from oxidative damage. The present study was carried out to study the antioxidant role of vitamin E on the immune changes induced by oxidative stress in HH at high altitude. Select immune responses (phagocytic activity of white blood cell [WBC], cytotoxic activity of splenic mononuclear cells [MNCs], and delayed type of hypersensitivity [DTH]) and hematological changes (total count and differential count [DC] of WBC) were measured in male rats exposed to intermittent HH (at 5486.4 m in a simulated chamber for 8 hours/d for 6 consecutive days) and in normobaric condition with and without p.o. administration of vitamin E in three different doses (20, 40, and 60 mg/kg body weight). The increase of phagocytic activity of blood WBC, and reduction of cytotoxic activity of splenic MNC and DTH response were observed in rats exposed to HH. After the administration of vitamin E at different doses, the immune changes were blocked in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to HH also led to the elevation of serum corticosterone (CORT), which was arrested after administration of vitamin E. The results indicate that the immune changes in HH at high altitude are probably mediated by the production of free radicals and nonradicals, and vitamin E can block these immune changes by its reactive oxygen species quenching effects.