Comparative study of fasting blood glucose and haematological parameters of Wistar rat, <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and the common African toad, <i>Bufo regularis</i>

Abstract

Haematological parameters are good indicators of the physiological status of animals and useful in understanding the relationship of blood to the environment. This study was carried out to compare the fasting levels of blood glucose and haematological parameters (Red blood cell count, Packed cell volume, Haemoglobin concentration, White blood cell count, Platelet count, and differential White blood cell counts) in Wistar rats, Rattus norvegicus and the common African toad, Bufo regularis. Ten rats and ten toads were used in the study. The animals were divided into two groups. Group I consists of 10 rats while Group II consists of 10 toads. The animals were fasted overnight before blood samples were collected for the determination of blood glucose and blood parameters. The blood glucose was determined using modified glucose oxidase method while the blood parameters were determined using standard laboratory techniques. The results of the study showed that the fasting blood glucose level in rats was significantly higher than that of toad. The fasting levels of blood parameters, packed cell volume, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin concentration in the toad were significantly lower than those of rats while the white blood cell counts of the toads were significantly higher compared with the rats. There were no significant differences in neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts of rats when compared with those of the toad.