HEMATOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN PROPLYENE GLYCOL-DOSED FEMALE RATS ARE MINIMAL

The effect of a single oral dose of 73 or 294 mg propylene glycol/100 g bw, in Group I or II respectively, on hematological parameters, plas ma osmolality and erythrocyte morphology was investigated in groups of 6 female rats each at different time intervals after dosing. A statis tically significant and progressive decrease was observed in hemoglobi n, packed cell volume and red cell counts for 2 d, which returned to b asal values on the 8th day. Reticulocyte counts, plasma hemoglobin and osmolality increased after PG dosing in both the groups, and the chan ges were more pronounced after 2 d. The osmotic fragility of erythrocy tes remained unaffected after PG dosing whereas electron microscope mo rphology revealed rough cell surface, ruptured membranes and increased cell adherence throughout the observation period, but these features were not marked on the 8th day. These modified red cell surface charac teristics could promote removal by the reticulo-endothelial system res ulting in the significant increases in spleen weights in both groups.