The level of some acute phase proteins, total protein, gamma-globulins and activity of lysozyme in blood plasma of rats supplemented with vitamin E and exposed to ozone

In rats exposed for 28 days (5 hours a day) to ozone at a concentration of 0.5 ppm and receiving alpha-tocopherol at doses of 4.5 mg/rat and 15 mg/rat, levels of acute phase proteins (APP) - C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (Cp), total protein, gamma-globulins, and activity of lysozyme in blood serum were studied. The assays were performed in the presence of respective control groups, i.e. rats receiving the same doses of alpha-tocopherol but not exposed to ozone, a group of animals not supplemented with vitamin but exposed to ozone, a group of animals injected with physiological fluid and a control group not subjected to any of the treatments. The study revealed that the ozone-exposed animals had an increased lysozyme activity and a decreased total protein level. However, in rats protected by alpha-tocopherol and exposed to ozone, the concentration of APP, lysozyme activity and total protein were found to be decreased. Similar relationships also occurred in animals receiving alpha-tocopherol and not exposed to ozone.