Experimental intoxication of guinea pigs with Ipomoea carnea: Correlation between effects on peripheral blood and bone marrow

GARCIA, E.; CHOLICH, L; PISTÁN M; GIMENO, E.J.; RIOS E; ACOSTA DE PEREZ, .O.C.

Berlin

Congreso; 2nd Joint European Congress of the ESVP, ESTP and ECVP; 2014

Cutting Edge Pathology

Introduction: The guinea pig is an appropriate model of I. carnea-induced lysosomal storage disease in ruminants. This is characterized by abnormal behavior of affected animals, weakness and loss of appetite, ataxia, recumbence and death. The objective of this study was to show time-dependent intoxication, resulting in hematological and bone marrow (BM) changes; and to determine a correlation between them. Materials and Methods: Guinea pigs (n = 12) were randomly divided into three groups of 4 animals, named a control group and two groups treated during 20 and 40 days. Pellets containing 30% of I. carnea powered leaves were administered to each treated animal. On the day of euthanasia, the whole blood was collected for hematological examination. Bone marrow (BM) was collected from the cavity of the femur, centrifuged, the cell´s pellet was suspended in PBS and the cells were counted in a hemocytometer. Besides, cytological examinations of BM smears were performed for cellular changes. Results: All treated guinea pigs had significant reduction in hemoglobin concentration, PCV and RBC after 20 days of treatment compared to the guinea pigs in the control group. Additionally, globular osmotic resistance (GOR) was not changed. BM aspirates revealed decreased overall cellularity in animals receiving I. carnea for up to 20 and 40 days when compared to the controls. The histology of bone marrow smear from both treated groups, mainly revealed presence of less erythroid series, compared to the control group. In addition, the Myeloid-Erythroid (M:E) ratio was 0.88±0,29;2.38±0,10 in animals treated for 20 and 40 days, respectively. The ratio 1.33± 0.03 was observed for the control group. Conclusions: All treated guinea pigs showed haematological alterations. These animals developed normocitic and normocromic anaemia, which correlated with the BM cellularity effects. The increase in the M:E ratio at 40 days of intoxication was due to erythroid hypoplasia, associated with anaemia of medullar origin. Supported by ANPCyT (PICT 2011- 1379).