Haematological and biochemical changes associated with male rats deprived of feed and water

Overnight food and water restriction protocols are common in animal research, however information about the haematological and biochemical changes due to food and water deprivation over longer periods can provide information about the stress experience by these animals. This study was conducted using ten (n = 10) male albino rats housed in metallic cage. The rats were deprived of feed and water consecutively for six days. On the third and sixth days blood samples were obtained for haematological studies while serum was used for biochemical studies. There were significant increases in red cell counts, packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume while significant decreases were observed in the mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration as compared to the basal parameters. The white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes were significantly increased as compared with the basal parameters. Activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase in post feed and water deprivation condition are elevated compared to basal parameters. There were significant decreases in serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol concentrations while the total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea were significantly elevated. It can be concluded that rats deprived of feed and water predisposes to starvation, dehydration and stress with perturbation of haematological and biochemical parameters.