Antioxidant therapy of cobalt and vitamin E in hemosiderosis

The protective effects of cobalt and vitamin E in iron overloaded rats were investigated. Rats were divided into four groups: group 1 as control, group 2 received only iron; group 3 iron and cobalt, group 4 iron and vitamin E. All injections were given 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Biochemical and histopathologic studies were done on samples of blood and liver, spleen, and intestine. The results showed that the administration of iron with cobalt or vitamin E decreased lipid peroxidation and the levels of hypoxanthine in all tissues (P < .001). Tissue associated myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was increased in all iron-overloaded animals. However, vitamin E and cobalt decreased MPO activity (P < .001) in all tissues with the exception of the intestines, where cobalt was ineffective. Cobalt therapy increased hemoglobin, hematocrit, and MCV (P < .05). In contrast to SGPT activity, SGOT activity was significantly increased in all groups but more so in group 3 animals. The increased activity of serum SGOT levels might be related to the mechanical injury by cardiac puncture. The most striking histopathologic finding was the presence of granulomas in the livers of 71% of the animals of group 2 and in 66.6% of group 3. Interestingly, granulomas developed in only 33.3% of group 4 animals, whereas no granulomas were found in the livers of control animals (group 1). In this article we report that cobalt is as effective as vitamin E in significantly reducing iron-induced biochemical changes in an iron-overload in vivo model. We further describe for the first time the presence of extensive granuloma formation in iron-overloaded liver tissue and the greater efficiency of vitamin E over cobalt in protecting against granuloma formation in iron overload.