Changes in Haematological Indices, Serum Calcium, Phosphate and Iron Levels in Ovariectomized Rats Treated with Diethylstilbestrol

Abstract

Background: Reduced circulating estrogen is responsible for majority of the post-menopausal changes in women.

Objective: To investigate the effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on haematopoiesis and bone metabolism variables in ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats.

Materials and Methods: Mature female Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 200-220 g were used for this study. The rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. A control group (C), sham-operated group (ShamOp), ovariectomized untreated (OvxUt), ovariectomized diethylstilbestrol treated (OvxDes) and normal treated (NorDes) group along with their corresponding recovery groups. Bilateral ovariectomy was carried out under anesthesia on all animals except the sham-operated and control rats. All animals were allowed a recovery period of20 days post operation and then randomly distributed into the different groups. DES was administered orally at a dose of 1.2 mglkg body weight. At the end of the experiment, all animals were fasted overnight and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture and processed for analysis of haematological variables, estrogen levels (by ELISA kit), calcium, phosphate (by spectrophotometry) and iron levels (by colorimetry).

Results: Werecorded a significant reduction inred blood cell count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and platelet count (by automated haematology analyser) in OvxDes group. Plasma estradiol was significantly reduced in the OvxUt when compared with OvxDes group. Plasma calcium level was also significantlyreduced in the OvxUt and OvxDes groups when compared with the control.

Conclusion: Reduction in estradiol level causes a reduction in haematological variables as well as bone metabolism indices. Estradiol replacement via DES administration salvaged the situation.