Abstract

W. Alhassan , A. Y. Adenkola , A. Yusuf , Z. M. Bauchi , M. I. Saleh and V. I. Ochigbo

The experiment was carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of an antioxidant ascorbic acid on erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) of Wistar rats during the hot-dry season. Fifteen adult Wistar rats administered with AA at the dose of 100 mg/kg per os and individually served as experimental animals, and 15 others administered orally with sterile water were used as control animals. The animals were kept in the laboratory and the meteorological parameters within the period of study were determined using wet and dry bulb thermometer while the blood samples for EOF determination was obtained at the end of the experiment which lasted 8 weeks and this was done using standard procedure. EOF decrease significantly (P < 0.05) in experimental rats compared to the control group. The results indicated that AA protected the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane in experimental rats administered with AA as demonstrated by lower percentage haemolysis, and thus may alleviate the risk of increase in haemolysis due to heat stress in rats during the hot-dry season.