ISSN:
1433-2981
Keywords:
Antioxidant
;
Butylated hydroxytoluene
;
Thrombopoietin
;
Thrombocytosis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Inclusion of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in the diet of rats, at a dose level of 3 g/kg/day for up to 14 or 21 days, caused modest, but persistent, increases in platelet count, microcytic red blood cell count and red blood cell glutathione (up to 144%, 280% and 197% of control values respectively). These changes were directly BHT-related but unrelated to its hepatotoxicity and independent of vitamin K status. Transient increases in red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin and transient decreases in reticulocyte, white blood cell and neutrophil counts were, however, related to the early but temporary reduction in food and water intake in the initial stages of feeding the BHT-containing diet. The apparent microcytosis was not accompanied by any other evidence of haemolytic anaemia and may, therefore, have arisen as an artifactual consequence of platelet abnormalities. The cause of the increased platelet phenomenon is not yet characterised but may be an adaptive response to a BHT-related platelet dysfunction and does not appear to be life threatening since an 8-fold increase in mean platelet count has been observed without any detectable adverse effect on thrombogenesis. It is suggested that BHT, given in high doses, could prove to be a useful tool in the identification and characterisation of thrombopoietin.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00368276
Permalink
