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ABSTRACT
Asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disorder with increase in severity characterized by symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, and/or wheezing. Asthma medication comprises bronchodilators, corticosteroids and anticholinergic drugs. Most of these drugs are inhaled using varieties of inhalers or nebulizers. Montelukast, is a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist used in the prophylaxis of asthma and management of various inflammatory disorders. Hydrocortisone which is a glucocorticoid and a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist is used in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory conditions. The red blood cell indices are used to evaluate the size and hemoglobin content of red blood cells. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Hydrocortisone and Montelukast on RBC indices in Sprague Dawley rats with induced asthma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Hydrocortisone and Montelukast on some Red Blood Cell indices in asthma induced Sprague-Dawley rats. To achieve this 20 female Sprague Dawley rats were used for this study, which were divided into 2 main groups (control and test groups). Control group is subdivided into: Group 1 control - not induced with asthma, Group 2 negative control - induced with asthma but not treated. While the test group is divided into: Group 2 (asthma induced and treated with montelukast), Group 4 (asthma induced and treated hydrocortisone). Asthma was induced by sensitizing the rats with 1 mg OVA and 200 mg aluminum hydroxide dissolved in 0.9 saline on day 0 and 7, challenged with OVA (1 % w/v, adsorbed in 0.9 saline) twice weekly from day 7 of treatment until the last day. Normal control group were sensitized and challenged with intraperitoneal injection and aerosolized saline respectively. Asthma induction was verified first week after challenge with evidence of neutrophilia and eosinophilia in all test groups compared to control.
