Ozone induced hematological changes in mouse strains with differential levels of erythrocyte G-6-PD activity and vitamin E status.

A single short term in vivo exposure (6 hr) to O3 (i.e., 0.3, 0.9, 1.5 ppm) markedly affected several hematological parameters in males of two mouse strains (C57L/J and A/J) reared on either a vitamin E normal or deficient diet. Of particular significance is that at the lowest concentration employed (i.e., 0.3 ppm), O3 induced marked decreases in red cell ACHE and increases in heinz body formation and osmotic fragility in both mouse strains regardless of diet type. Although the two mouse strains markedly differ in their RBC G-6-PD activity, they did not consistently differ in responses to O3 exposure.