Therapeutic potential of vitamin B6 in preventing hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in mercury-exposed rabbits

This study aims to examine the potential protective role of vitamin B6 against mercury-induced damage in the kidneys and thymus. A total of a twenty-four male rabbits were evenly divided into four groups: the control group, the Hg group (0.5 g HgCl2/kg body weight), the VitB6 group (5 ppm by gavage), and the Hg + VitB6 group (0.5 g HgCl2/kg body weight + 5 ppm VitB6 by gavage) HgCl2 was included into the standard diet on a daily basis. The results indicated that exposure to HgCl2 for thirty days resulted in an elevation of white blood cell counts, along with significant decreases in platelet, erythrocyte, haematocrit, and haemoglobin levels. Moreover, plasma levels of urea and creatinine were increased in the HgCl2 group relative to the control group. An observable elevation in kidney malondialdehyde levels was noted, associated with a reduction in reduced glutathione levels and diminished activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the HgCl2 groups. The gavage by vitamin B6, whether administered alone or combined with HgCl2, enhanced all assessed parameters. Histological evaluations of the kidneys and thymus demonstrated substantial tissue modifications in the HgCl2 group, characterised by severe glomerular atrophy, tubular necrosis, dilatation of Bowman’s capsule, thymic cortex atrophy, and lymphocyte depletion. However, rabbits administered HgCl2 and vitamin B6 had a restored histological architecture in these organs. Hgcl2 produces oxidative stress and modified biochemical markers, combined with the histological profiles of the thymus and kidneys. Nonetheless, the use of vitamin B6 has alleviated this toxicity.