Effect of ascorbic acid administration on erythrocyte osmotic fragility in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) subjected to road transportation

• Published in: Journal of Applied Animal Research Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 26 - 32
• Main Authors: Ayo, J.O, Minka, N.S, Hussein, K.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 02.01.2015
• Subjects: ascorbic acid; body weight; climatic factors; erythrocyte fragility; erythrocytes; haemolysis; hemolysis; Oryctolagus cuniculus; physiological response; rabbit; rabbits; transportation; transportation stress
• ISSN: 0974-1844; 0971-2119; 0974-1844
• DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2014.887009

The physiological responses of erythrocytes of rabbits transported by road for 2 h under hot-humid climate and the ameliorating effect of ascorbic acid (AA) were investigated. Nine rabbits served as experimental (treated) and were administered AA orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, while seven other rabbits served as control and were given equivalent of sterile water only. Thirty minutes after AA administration, the rabbits were transported. The erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) values recorded in the control rabbits immediately after transportation and three days post-transportation were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the pre-transportation values and the corresponding values obtained in treated rabbits. They were indicated by an increase in haemolysis on each point of the fragility curve. The result suggested that road transportation resulted in haemolysis of erythrocytes, which lasted for three days after transportation. Thus, the rabbits may require more than three days after transportation for their erythrocytes to return to base-line values. In treated rabbits, the transportation had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the EOF. The result demonstrated that 2 h of road transportation of rabbits under adverse climatic conditions resulted in oxidative damage of erythrocyte membrane, which was alleviated by AA administration.