Studies on Certain Heat Induced Changes of Erythrocyte Membrane with Supplementation of Ascorbic Acid and Alteration of Dietary Protein Level

Abstract

The present study was aimed to determine the effect of ascorbic acid on certain changes of erythrocyte membrane of heat exposed rat, fed on altered dietary protein levels. Elevated cholesterol to phospholipid (C/PL) ratios (7.56 ±0.26; p<0.001 & 10.22 ±0.36; p<0.001) in erythrocyte membrane were found both adequately (18%) protein-fed rats and protein-restricted (6%) rats respectively, following chronic exposure to heat. Prior supplementation with ascorbic acid potentiated the effect of chronic heat exposure on cholesterol content (58.47±0.98; p<0.01& 58.38 ±1.35; p<0.001) of erythrocyte membrane of both adequately protein-fed rats and protein-restricted rats respectively, while it tended to restore partially phospholipid content (7.65 ±0.57; p<0.05) of the erythrocyte membrane in adequately protein-fed rats only. The increased activity of AchE was observed, unlike ATPases which showed depressed activity. Significant decrease in iodine number and increase in conjugated diene formation and increased alanine liberation were found in erythrocyte membrane of chronic heat exposed rat. Acute exposure showed the elevated formation of conjugated diene (4.96 ±0.13; p a <0.01) in rats fed a 6% protein diet and decreased in iodine number (36.39 ±1.09; p a <0.05) in adequately protein-fed rats only.