Mitigation Effects of Vitamin C and E Against Copper Toxicity in Broiler Chickens, With Reference to Biochemical, Genotoxicity and Pathological Studies
Abstract Copper (Cu) is necessary for biological utility, nevertheless when existing in abundance; it can produce plentiful injurious impacts. This enquiry was carried out to explore the efficiency of individual or combined doses of vitamin C (Vit C) and vitamin E (Vit E) in ameliorating some biochemical, genotoxicity and pathological changes in the liver of copper sulphate (CuSO 4 )-intoxicated chickens. One hundred- one day old broiler chicks were haphazardly divided into 5groups of 20 chicks each. The broilers were fed on basal diet only (control, gp.1 ) or supplemented with 300 mg CuSO 4 /kg diet (Cu, gp.2 ), CuSO 4 + 250 mg Vit C /kg diet (Cu+ Vit C, gp.3 ), CuSO 4 +250 mg Vit E /kg diet (Cu+ Vit E, gp.4 ) and both vitamins C + E (Cu+ Vit C+ Vit E, gp.5 ) for six weeks. The results displayed that CuSO 4 - intoxicated birds (gp.2) had significantly ( p<0.05 ) dwindled body weight, gain and feed consumption with increased feed conversion rate from week 2 till the 6 th week compared with control group. Serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly ( p<0.05 ) augmented in CuSO4- exposed group (gp.2) with significantly ( p<0.05 ) drop in serum total protein (TP), albumin, globulins, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels compared to control. Concomitantly, histopathological and DNA changes were perceived in liver of CuSO 4 -intoxicated birds. Co-supplementation of Vit C, and Vit E single-handedly or incorporation to CuSO 4 -intoxicated chickens displayed an enhancement in performance traits and abovementioned changes, especially with those given combination of vitamins. From the extant enquiry, it could be established that supplementation of vitamin C and E were beneficial for alleviation the harmful effects of CuSO 4 on performance and other studied parameters in broiler chickens.