Effects of Variable Doses of Neurokinin B on Hematological and Coagulation    Parameters in Adult Male Rats

Objective: To evaluate the dose-dependent effects of Neurokinin B on hematological and coagulation parameters in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Gomal University and KMU Institute of Medical Sciences from February 2019 to April 2021. Methodology:  Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n=5 per group) were administered intraperitoneally with Neurokinin B at doses of 1 µg, 1 ηg and 1 ρg for 12 days consecutively. Control rats received distilled water injections. After 12 days, rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected from the left ventricle for hematological and coagulation analysis. Results:  Bleeding time was significantly prolonged in NKB-µg (114±17.10sec) and Neurokinin B -ηg (72±22.25sec) compared to control (33±12.55sec). Clotting time (CT) was also increased (NKB-µg: 111±17.10sec; NKB-ηg: 69±17.10sec, control: 42±12.55sec), as did prothrombin time (PT) [NKB-µg: 93.60±10.92sec; NKB-ηg: 63.40±12.66sec, control: 15±4.12sec] and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) [NKB-µg: 94.80±14.04sec; NKB-ηg:68.60±13.74sec, control: 19.40±2.97sec]. Additionally, mean platelet volume [NKB-µg:8.94±0.36fl, control: 8.04±0.48fl] and leukocyte count (×103/µl) [NKB-µg: 12.14±0.69, control: 8.87±1.32] were significantly increased in NKB-treated animals compared to control. There was a significant increase in international normalized ratio in NKB-µg (6.86±0.80) and NKB-ηg (4.65±0.93) compared to control group (1.10±0.30). Conversely, platelet count (×103/µl) was decreased significantly in NKB-µg group (787.80±48.51) compared to the control group (960.60±58.71). Conclusion: NKB administration led to leukocytosis, thromboctopenia, and affected coagulation pathways with prolonged BT, CT, PT, APTT and INR dose-dependently.