Ameliorative Effects of Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C) Against Sodium Nitrite Toxicity in Albino Rats: Hematological, Biochemical and Histopathological Studies

Nitrite toxicity can reach to human, animal, bird and experimentally to laboratory animals by direct and indirect methods. Our experiment evaluated the ameliorative effects of ascorbic acid treatment against sodium nitrite toxicity in female Sprague drawly rats. The rats orally given normal distilled water served as control (gp 1). The rats orally given sodium nitrite at 1.5 mg/rat equivalent 1/20 from LD50 (200 mg/kg b.wt.) dissolved in 1 ml distilled water daily for 6 months (gp 2) and simultaneously with vitamin C administration at 10 mg/kg b.wt. dissolved in 1ml distilled water (gp 3) daily for 6 months. Sodium nitrite-treated animals exhibited significant increase in white blood cells. In addition to, significant decrease in red blood cells count, PCV% and hemoglobin concentration. Furthermore, significant increases in serum biochemical parameters related to liver injury alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Also there were elevation in the levels of markers related to renal injury urea and creatinine. Histopathologically, sodium nitrite toxicity induced degenerative changes in renal tubules with congestion of glomerular capillary and vacuolar degeneration of hepatocyte with congestion and dilation of portal vein and blood sinusoid associated with inflammatory cell infiltration. It could be concluded that ascorbic acid treatment can ameliorate the toxic effects of sodium nitrite in albino rats.