Pathology Of Experimental Copper Toxicity In Chickens

180 one-day-old Avian chickens were divided into three group, and fed on diets as follow: 1 .controls(Cu 11.97 mg/kg), 2.group H(Cu 650mg/kg) and S.group III (Cu 850mg/kg) for studies on effects of copper on organs, blood biochemical findings and immune function in chickens with the methods of the pathology and Flow Cytometry(FCM). Signs appeared in group at 1 week I, and in group II at 2 weeks. Some affected chickens died during the experiment. Pathologically, there were some similar lesions in copper toxic group I and group II when compared with control group. There were some degeneration occurred in the affected chickens, which mainly were the fatty degeneration of liver. Lymphoid organs became small and light, and lymphocytes depleted. The glycogen of liver cells became lessened, endoplasmic reticulum enlarged and mitochondrion swelling. The number of apoptosis cells increased in lymphoid organs. Hematologically, illustrate the number of red blood cells and content of haemoglobin markedly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The serum AST and LDH activities markedly increased(P<0.05 or PO.01) and the serum CP activity markedly decreased(P<0.05 or PO.01). The number of lymphocyte subset CD4+ and CD8+ were decreased markedly. Erythocyte C3bRR and 1CR ratio markedly decrease. The aforementioned result domonstrated that chickens were susceptible to copper toxicity from 3 weeks of age to 5 weeks of age. The traget organs of copper toxic injury were liver, kindey, heart, gastrointestines and lymphoid organs. the proliferation of lymphocytes were impaired. The affected died due to the injure, disfunction of organs and reduced immune function.