The effects of gamma-radiation on red blood cell corpuscles and dimensional properties in rats

In an attempt to understand the toxicity and the potential role of gamma-radiation as a therapeutic tool, the effects of different Gamma-radiation doses on haematological and dimensional properties of rats' blood were investigated in vivo. 60 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats were used, which were randomly divided into five groups, 4 Gamma-radiated rat groups (1 st group was radiated with five Gamma-radiation dose, 2 nd group 25Gy; 3 rd group with 50Gy, 4 th group with 100Gy, and 5 th group was control). Different haematological and dimensional parameters were measured using the standard haematological technique. A significant decrease in red blood cells (RBCs) count, haemoglobin (HGB), and haematocrit (HCT) was observed compared with the control. While a significant increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red distribution width (RDW) were observed compared with the control. This study suggested that low RBCs, HGB, and HCT might produce anemia and cessation of erythrocytes production in the bone marrow. Moreover, the RBCs size increase might be attributed to changes in the morphology and deformability of RBCs, which was confirmed by a slightly increase in RDW.