THE ROLE OF VITAMIN C ON DEFENSE SYSTEM OF DOMESTIC RABBIT Oryctolagus cuniculus IN MERCURY INDUCED TOXICITY

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to investigate the protective role of vitamin C in domestic rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus intoxicated by mercury. Thus, the status of target organs, glutathione and some immune markers are evaluated by using two exposure periods. Male rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus were exposed for 10 and 22 days to either Hg alone or combined with vitamin C (Hg-VitC), in order to estimate the possible antioxidant protective role of this vitamin. In the first treatment period, results have showed non-significant variations in the relative weight of liver, kidney, spleen and adrenal in both treated groups compared to the control. Glutathione level in Hg group was significantly increased in liver, but it decreased significantly in spleen and adrenal. However, glutathione in Hg-VitC group was higher in liver and lower in spleen compared to the control. The percentage of immune markers lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils were unchanged in all circumstances, except the observed significant augmentation of basophils in the Hg-VitC group compared to the Hg group. In the second treatment period, the relative weight of liver and adrenal were increased significantly when treated by Hg and that compared to the control. The relative organ weight in the Hg-VitC group, revealed a significant decrease in liver and in adrenal compared to the Hg group. Glutathione level in Hg group was decreased significantly in liver, kidney and spleen. Furthermore, glutathione concentration of the Hg-VitC group was significantly decreased in both liver and adrenal, but it was increased in kidney and that compared to the Hg group. Concerning the immune markers, only basophils were significantly decreased in both treatments compared to the control. When comparing the two treatments period, a remarkable decrease was observed in liver glutathione of Hg group and in the percentage of basophils of the two treated groups after 3 weeks. The protective role of vitamin C, however, seems evident on adrenal glutathione level and basophils during the first treatment period, but during the second period, it protected kidney glutathione level, in addition to liver and adrenal relative organ weights.