The influence of vitamin A status on the response of chickens to aflatoxin B₁and changes in liver lipid metabolism associated with aflatoxicosis

Abstract

I A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary retinol status on chickens ingesting aflatoxin B,. The effects of dietary supplementation with biotin and a-tocopherol were also examined.2. Aflatoxin B, levels greater than I mg/kg diet had a detrimental effect on 'liveability', body-weight gain, food intake and food conversion efficiency. When fed for more than 2 weeks aflatoxin increased relative liver weight and liver lipid concentration. These effects were less pronounced with avitaminotic A chickens.3. A synergistic effect on hydropericardium development was observed between aflatoxin B, and retinol. This effect was not observed when the dietary level of a-tocopherol was increased tenfold.4. The specific activities of certain hepatic lipogenic and amino acid-metabolizing enzymes were influenced by aflatoxin ingestion. A reduction in lipogenic enzyme activity was observed before a reduction in the activities of amino acid-metabolizing enzymes.5. Liver fatty acid composition was significantly influenced by aflatoxin B,. The extent of these changes was reduced by the inclusion of additional dietary biotin.

Protective effect of L-carnitine against oxidative damage caused by experimental chronic aflatoxicosis in quail (Coturnix coturnix)

“…L-carnitine prevents hepatic lipidosis, one of the main symptoms of aflatoxicosis in poultry (Bryden et al, 1979;Merkley et al, 1987). These results were supported by our histopathological findings.…”

Sex and strain responses to aflatoxin B1in the chicken

“…This is supported by different ordering of effects to aflatoxin between sexes in mature birds (Wyatt et al, 1973). Increases in liver weight, liver lipid content and changes in liver fatty acid composition when 0.5 mg aflatoxin Bi/kg diet was fed agrees with previous reports Tung et al, 1972;Bryden et al, 1979). Changes in liver fatty acid composition are similar to those observed in pigs (Veen, 1967) and rats (Alfin-Slater et al, 1975).…”

Observations on the liver of the chicken following aflatoxin B1ingestion

“…Most noticeably affected were the two lipogenic enzymes, ATP citrate lyase and NADP-malate dehydrogenase, the reduction attaining significance (P < 0.05) in the case of the latter enzyme. The relationship of these results to the effects of aflatoxin on avian hepatic lipogenesis have been discussed elsewhere (Bryden et al, 1979). Values for the small accessory lobe were mid-way between the values for normal livers and livers of birds fed diets containing aflatoxin.…”