LACK OF DIETARY CALCIUM EFFECT ON CHLORDECONE INCREASED WHITE BLOOD-CELL COUNT, TOTAL IRON, AND IRON-BINDING-CAPACITY IN SERUM OF RAT

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 0, 1, 10, 50, and 100 ppm o f chlordecone (Cd) mixed in calcium-sufficient (Ca-S) or calcium-defic ient (Ca-D) diet for 15 days. The control rats fed with Ca-D diet exhi bited a significant increase in white blood cell (WBC) counts compared to the rats fed with Ca-S diet. Dietary calcium (Ca), however, did no t elicit any significant effect on total iron content and iron-binding capacity (transferrin) of control rats, whereas Cd at higher concentr ations significantly increased WBC counts, total iron, and iron-bindin g capacity in serum of both Ca-S and Ca-D rats. The data suggest that dietary Ca did not alter Cd-increased WBC count, total iron, and iron- binding capacity in Serum of rat. (C) 1996 Academic Press,Inc.