Interactive effects of alcohol and chloroquine on hematologic profile of Wistar rats

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThere is paucity of information on the adverse effects of alcohol – chloroquine interaction on hematological parameters. To investigate the effects of concurrent administration of chloroquine and ethanol on hematologic parameters of adult Wistar rats and the ameliorative role of vitamin B12and folic acid supplementation on any adverse effects.MethodsSome 30 adult Wistar rats weighing 120–200 g were assigned to six major groups of five rats each according to their weights. The control group A was fed with normal rat chow and water. The experimental groups B–F were administered with drugs for a period of 7 days as follows: B (chloroquine only); C (ethanol only); D (chloroquine+ethanol); E (chloroquine+ethanol+vitamin B12); and F (chloroquine+ethanol+vitamin B12+folic acid). Blood samples were collected from each animal by cardiac puncture to determine red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH). Liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were analyzed to test for liver function.ResultsGroup D indicated lower PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH, and greater WBC compared with control. Group E indicated greater (p<0.05) PCV, Hb, and RBC compared with Group D. Greater (p<0.05) MCV and MCH, and lower WBC and RBC were observed in Group F compared with Group D. Furthermore, Group D rats indicated greater (p<0.05) mean AST and ALT compared with Groups A, E, and F.ConclusionsConcurrent administration of chloroquine and alcohol indicated adverse effects on hematologic parameters of Wistar rats. The administration of vitamin B12and folic acid appeared to ameliorate these adverse effects.