Hyperglycaemic Environment: Contribution to the Anaemia Associated with Diabetes Mellitus in Rats Experimentally Induced with Alloxan

Background. Diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycaemia presents with various complications amongst which anaemia is common particularly in those with overt nephropathy or renal impairment. The present study has examined the contribution of the hyperglycaemic environment in diabetic rats to the anaemia associated with diabetes mellitus. Method. Sixty male albino rats weighing 175–250 g were selected for this study and divided equally into control and test groups. Hyperglycaemia was induced with 170 kgbwt−1 alloxan intraperitoneally in the test group while control group received sterile normal saline. Blood samples obtained from the control and test rats were assayed for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), reticulocyte count, glucose, plasma haemoglobin, potassium, and bilirubin. Result. Significant reduction (P < 0.01) in PCV (24.40 ± 3.87 versus 40.45 ± 3.93) and haemoglobin (7.81 ± 1.45 versus 13.39 ± 0.40) with significant increase (P < 0.01) in reticulocyte count (12.4 ± 1.87 versus 3.69 ± 0.47), plasma haemoglobin (67.50 ± 10.85 versus 34.20 ± 3.83), and potassium (7.04 ± 0.75 versus 4.52 ± 0.63) was obtained in the test while plasma bilirubin showed nonsignificant increase (0.41 ± 0.04 versus 0.24 ± 0.06). Conclusion. The increased plasma haemoglobin and potassium levels indicate an intravascular haemolytic event while the nonsignificant increased bilirubin showed extravascular haemolysis. These play contributory roles in the anaemia associated with diabetes mellitus.