[The protective effect of alpha-tocopherol characterized by erythron system indices in rats with chronic nitrite intoxication].

The effect of alpha-tocopherol administered in a dose of 15 and 150 mg/kg on the erythron system was studied in rats subjected to chronic nitrite intoxication. The chronic poisoning with sodium nitrite led to three-phase changes in the concentration of erythrocytes (RBC count) and hemoglobin and to activation of the erythropoiesis and erythrophagocytosis processes. The introduction of alpha-tocopherol on the background of intoxication with sodium nitrite prevents from the development of erythropenia, causes erythrocytosis (in large doses), decreases the degree of cytoarchitectonic changes, and reduces the erythropoiesis and erythrophagocytosis activity.