ESTIMATION OF HEMATOPOITIC AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN WISTAR RATS SUBCHRONOUSLY EXPOSED TO FOOD ADDITIVE E223 (NaMBS)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of subchronic exposure to NaMBS (90 days), on the quantitative hemogram and the thymus histology spleen and stomach in Wistar rats. The study involved 24 female Wistar rats, receiving increasing concentrations of 0.25%, 1% and 4% of NaMBS in drinking water, for 90 days compared to the control group receiving drinking water without NaMBS. At the end of the experiment, the control and experimental rats were sacrificed, the blood and organs were removed and the hematological parameters were assayed. The thymus, spleen and stomach were used for histological study. In all cases a value p <0.05 was considered significant. The results obtained show that, the group receiving 4% of NaMBS showed a significant decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin (p< 0.05), an increase in the number of white blood cells (p< 0.01) and the number of platelets were observed. The doses of 1% and 4% cause statistically significant changes of the erythrocyte indices (MCV, MCHC, MCHC); and of the leukocyte formula  (lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes), in comparison with the control group. Hyperplasia of the spleen and stomach in animals treated with 1% and 4% of NaMBS, was observed in comparison with those of control animals. In addition, histological examination revealed hyperplasia of the white pulp and inflammation of the spleen, in rats treated with 4% of NaMBS and inflammation of the gastric mucosa, in the groups receiving 1% and 4% of NaMBS dose. The results obtained indicate that, the subchronic ingestion of NaMBS above the ADI, seems to cause alterations in some hematological parameters such as splenic and gastric histo-alterations in Wistar rats.

Abbreviations: MCHC: Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration, MCH: Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, MCV: Mean Corpuscular Volume, NaMBS: Sodium Metabisulfite, ADI: Acceptable Daily Intake.