In vivo effects of acetaminophen on rat RBC and role of vitamin E.

Non-therapeutic toxic dose (250 mg/kg) of acetaminophen (paracetamol), in vivo to albino rats significantly decreased red cell reduced glutathione (GSH) content and activity of (Na+, K+)-ATPase enzyme, whereas osmotic fragility (O.F.) was increased. However, no change was observed in the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) after acetaminophen treatment, while acetaminophen plus vitamin E treated rats showed significant increase in GR activity. Supplementation of vitamin E to the drug treated rats effectively brought the GSH content, (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity and O.F. back to almost normal. The results suggest that acetaminophen toxic dose treatment induces metabolic and membranal alterations making red cells prone to hemolysis, while vitamin E which is an antioxidant shows its ameliorating role to these changes.