In Vivo Effects of Vanadium Pentoxide and Antioxidants (Ascorbic Acid and Alpha-Tocopherol) on Apoptotic, Cytotoxic, and Genotoxic Damage in Peripheral Blood of Mice

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of vanadium pentoxide (V(2)O(5)), ascorbic acid (AA), and alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH) on apoptotic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activity. Groups of five Hsd:ICR mice were treated with the following: (a) vehicle, distilled water; (b) vehicle, corn oil; (c) AA, 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip); (d) α-TOH, 20 mg/kg by gavage; (e) V(2)O(5), 40 mg/kg by ip injection; (f) AA + V(2)O(5); and (g) α-TOH + V(2)O(5). Genotoxic damage was evaluated by examining micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE) obtained from the caudal vein at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatments. Induction of apoptosis and cell viability were assessed at 48 h after treatment in nucleated cells of peripheral blood. Treatment with AA alone reduced basal MN-PCE, while V(2)O(5) treatment marginally increased MN-PCE at all times after injection. Antioxidants treatments prior to V(2)O(5) administration decreased MN-PCE compared to the V(2)O(5) group, with the most significant effect in the AA + V(2)O(5) group. The apoptotic cells increased with all treatments, suggesting that this process may contribute to the elimination of the cells with V(2)O(5)-induced DNA damage (MN-PCE). The necrotic cells only increased in the V(2)O(5) group. Therefore, antioxidants such as AA and α-TOH can be used effectively to protect or reduce the genotoxic effects induced by vanadium compounds like V(2)O(5).