The Effect of Alpha Tocopherol on Body Organs of Neonatal Rats Exposed to Vanadium

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of α-Tocopherol (vitamin E) on the organs of neonatal rats exposed to Vanadium. Organ histology show that vanadium through lactation induced pathological changes including congestion and haemorrhages at the renal cortex, severe diffuse vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes, peribronchiolar hemorrhage, interstitial congestion and proliferation of pneumocytes. Also, the testes of the pups revealed slight reduction in germinal epithelium with the destruction of the spermatogenic cells although the interstitial connective tissue appeared relatively unaffected. The pups whose dams were treated with vanadium and α-Tocopherol displayed morphology similar to control in these organs. In this study however, no striking distinguishing difference was observed in the heart, thymus and spleen of lactating pups exposed to vanadium when compared to controls. We conclude that α-Tocopherol treatment of vanadium exposed mothers may also be beneficial at least in part in the protection of the organs of lactating offspring.