Effect of mercury on selected haematological parameters of rabbits in vitro

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine possible toxic effect of mercury on selected haematological parameters of rabbit blood depending on time exposure. The blood of rabbits was treated with a mercuric chloride (HgCl2 ) at the concentration of 5 mg .10 ml-1 of saline. The blood samples of the control (blood and saline) and experimental (blood and mercury addition) group were measured in dependence on the time of exposure to mercury: 0, 30, 60, 90, 150 and 210 minutes (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, resp.). Selected haematological parameters (WBC – total white blood cell count, RBC – red blood cell count, HGB – haemoglobin, HCT – hematocrit and PLT – platelet count) were measured using haematology analyzer Abacus junior VET. Significant decrease in erythrocytes, non-significant increase in the content of haemoglobin and significant decrease in platelet counts in rabbit blood in the mercury exposed group compared to the control group (no mercury treatment) was observed. Our results suggest that mercury, as an environmental pollutant, causes the changes and imbalance in the blood and blood elements.