Age-dependent effect of chlorpyrifos on the hematological parameters in male rats

The association between organophosphate pesticides (OPs) and hematological disorders has not fully understood. The current research aimed to evaluate the impact of sub-chronic exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF), a potent OP, on the hematological parameters of male rats of different ages. For this reason, 48 male Wistar rats, including young (2-month old), middle-aged (10-month old), and aged (20-month old), were randomly divided into three control and three treatment groups as follows (n = 8, per each group): young control group (C2), young CPF-treated group (CPF2), middle-aged control group (C10), middle-aged CPF-treated group (CPF10), aged control group (C20) and aged CPF-treated group (CPF20). CPF (5 mg/kg, orally) was administrated for 45 days. The control animals were gavaged olive oil as a vehicle. The blood samples were gathered from the heart to assess values of the mean platelet volume (MPV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelets (PLT), hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), and the number of red blood cells (RBCs). The findings showed that CPF dramatically reduced the number of RBCs, Hct, Hb, MCH, and PLT values in the young rats versus the age-matched control rats. However, no marked differences were found between hematological parameters in aging rats versus age-matched controls. The present findings indicated that sub-chronic exposure to CPF caused anemia in young animals. It is proposed that young animals are more sensitive to the hepatotoxic impact of CPF than aging rats. However, more studies are needed to confirm the current findings.

Automated summary

The study found that sub-chronic exposure to chlorpyrifos can cause anemia in young rats, with significant decreases in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and other parameters. However, no marked differences were observed in aging rats compared to age-matched controls.