GOSSYPOL-INDUCED ERYTHROCYTE FRAGILITY IN THE RAT IS AMELIORATED BY ETHANOL INTAKE

Erythrocyte osmotic fragility tests were carried out in rats fed on ei ther a low (8.0%) or a normal (15.2%) protein diet, simultaneously wit h gossypol and/or ethanol. Gossypol acetic acid was fed at a dosage of 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for six days in a week while 6% ethanol or 12% s ucrose solution was given to appropriate mts ad lib. for a total perio d of four weeks. Compared with the corresponding controls, erythrocyte s from gossypol-treated mts showed a significantly increased osmotic f ragility; this was not observed in the groups that were simultaneously fed with ethanol. These findings are consistent with previous reports that haemolysis may contribute to gossypol-related anaemia. They also show that adequate protein and/or ethanol intake may have a beneficia l effect on the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes of rats on gossypol- containing diets.