Ameliorative Effect of Vitamin C on the Altered Tissue Ascorbate Levels in Wistar Rats Exposed to Chlorpyrifos and Lead Acetate for 98 Days

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of chlorpyrifos, lead acetate, vitamin C alone and in combination on tissue ascorbate levels in Wistar rats. Rats of 150–200 g body weight were divided into eight groups of six animals each and were subjected to various daily oral treatment regimens for 98 days. Group C served as control receiving only corn oil, group CP received chlorpyrifos at 5.5 mg/kg in corn oil, group L received lead acetate at 100 ppm in water, whereas animals in group CP + L received a combination of chlorpyrifos at 5.5 mg/kg in corn oil and lead acetate at 100 ppm in water. Group VC received vitamin C at 100 mg/kg in water, group CP + VC received a combination of chlorpyrifos at 5.5 mg/kg and vitamin C at 100 mg/kg, group L + VC received lead acetate at 100 ppm in water and vitamin C at 100 mg/kg and group CP + L + VC received chlorpyrifos at 5.5 mg/kg, lead acetate at 100 ppm in water and vitamin C at 100 mg/kg. After 98-day exposure of chlorpyrifos and lead acetate, the concentration of ascorbate in liver, kidney and lung homogenates was decreased significantly as compared to the control group, besides a significant decrease was also observed in the homogenates of brain and heart tissues of chlorpyrifos and lead treatment groups, respectively. In groups receiving both chlorpyrifos and lead acetate, the concentration of ascorbate was significantly decreased in kidney, lung and liver homogenates. The study demonstrated that treatment of chlorpyriphos and lead treated rats with vitamin C significantly altered some of the important haematological parameters revealing the protective effect of this vitamin against haematological alterations induced by chlorpyriphos and lead.