Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine to reduce the effects of aflatoxin B1 intoxication in broiler chickens.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used safely in humans and in other mammals as an antidote against several toxic and carcinogenic agents, including aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of dietary supplementation with NAC to ameliorate the effects of subacute intoxication with AFB1 in broiler chickens. One hundred twenty male Hubbard 1-d-old chickens were allocated into one of four dietary treatments: 1) control group without treatment, 2) purified AFB1 added to diet (3 mg/kg of feed) for 21 d, 3) NAC (800 mg/kg BW, daily), or 4) AFB1 plus NAC at the same doses as Groups 2 and 3. Broilers treated with AFB1 plus NAC were shown to be partially protected against deleterious effects on BW (57.8%), daily weight gain (49.1%), feed conversion index (21.4%), plasma and hepatic total protein concentration (45.2, 66.7%), plasma alanine aminotransferase (67.4%), hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (18.8%), and reduced glutathione liver concentration (75.0%). In addition, they showed less intense liver fading, friable texture, and microvesicular steatosis. In the kidney, thickening of glomerular basement membrane was also less severe in NAC+AFB1-treated chickens than in AFB1-treated chickens. Our results suggest that NAC provided protection against negative effects on performance, liver and renal damage, and biochemical alterations induced by AFB1 in broiler chickens. Effects of NAC alone on chick performance were also evaluated. Addition of NAC to diet (800 mg/kg BW) did not negatively affect feed consumption, conversion index, or serum chemistry and did not induce structural changes in the liver or kidney.
Valdivia
A G
AG
Agricultural Sciences Centre, Jesus Maria, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Martínez
A
A
Damián
F J
FJ
Quezada
T
T
Ortíz
R
R
Martínez
C
C
Llamas
J
J
Rodríguez
M L
ML
Yamamoto
L
L
Jaramillo
F
F
Loarca-Piña
M G
MG
Reyes
J L
JL
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002645:Chickens; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001798:Blood Proteins; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine