Nephrotoxicity of dietary ochratoxin A in broiler chickens.
Graded doses of pure ochratoxin A (0,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0, and 8.0 mug of toxin per g of feed) were incorporated into a commercial diet which was fed to chicks from 1 day to 3 weeks of age, at which time the experiments were terminated. Growth was inhibited at 2.0 4,0, and 8.0 mug/g, whereas the kidneys were enlarged at doses of 1.0 mug/g and above. Renal function as measured by clearance of phenol red was decreased 15 and 31% by doses of 4.0 and 8.0 mug/g, respectively. Uric acid was increased 38 and 48% over the control values by doses of 4.0 and 8.0 mug/g, respectively. The plasma electrolytes Na, Cl,Ca, and K were measured; however, only K was significantly ( P smaller than 0.05) altered, showing a decrease at doses of 4.0 and 8.0 mug/g. The percentage dry weight of the kidneys decreased significantly at dose levels of 4.0 and 8.0 mug/g, indicative of edema. Histological examination of kidney sections gave the impression of edema and some tubular necrosis. Pathological changes were observed at all dose levels. These data demonstrate that ochratoxin A is a severe nephrotoxin in young broiler chickens.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D007008:Hypokalemia; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D009793:Ochratoxins; D014527:Uric Acid