Erythrocyte membranes are an excellent model system to study interaction of
pro-oxidants with membranes. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of
vitamin E on
ethion-induced biochemical and morphological alterations in erythrocytes.
Ethion was administered to the rats orally at a daily dose of 2.7 mg/kg
body weight for a period of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The results from the present study show that administration of
ethion resulted in oxidative damage to erythrocyte membranes as evident by increased lipid peroxidation and decreased
phospholipid content. This was accompanied by decrease in membrane
cholesterol levels. In addition,
ethion exposure inhibited the activities of membrane bound
enzymes; Na+ K+
ATPase and Mg2+ATPase. Scanning electron micrographs of erythrocytes from animals exposed to
ethion revealed morphological changes. Supplementation of
vitamin E (50 mg/kg
body weight) to
ethion exposed animals ameliorated the
ethion-induced oxidative stress, restored
membrane lipid composition and activity of membrane bound
enzymes along with erythrocyte shape. The results clearly demonstrate that
ethion-induced damage involves increase in oxidative stress that results in alterations in erythrocyte membrane structure and function. Furthermore, supplementation with
vitamin E reversed
ethion induced alterations suggesting its beneficial role in individuals exposed to
ethion.