Pathological Studies Of The Effects Of High Vanadium On Kidney And Liver In Broilers

The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of high vanadium on the liver and kidney in broilers. Four hundred and twenty one-day-old avian broilers were divided into six groups:the broilers in the control group were fed on a standard diet, and the ones in the experimental groups were fed on a standard diet added with a supranutritional amount of vanadium of ammonium metavanadate (5mg/kg, high vanadium group I; 15mg/kg, high vanadium groupⅡ; 30mg/kg, high vanadium groupⅢ; 45mg/kg, high vanadium groupⅣ; 60mg/kg, high vanadium groupⅤ) throughout the experimental period of 42 days. As tested by the methods of experimental pathology, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and biochemical reagent kits:the broilers'weight in high vanadium groupsⅡ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴwere significantly lower than in control group during the experiment, and the broilers' weight in high vanadium groupⅠwas significantly higher than in control group in the 4th, 5th and 6th week. Moreover, granular, vacuolar degeneration and necrosis were observed in hepatocytes and in renal tubular epithelial cells in high vanadium groupⅢ,Ⅳ, andⅤafter the 1st week. The Na+-K+-ATPase activities of liver and kidney were significantly lower in high vanadium groups IV and V than in control group while the activities of serum ALT, AST were significantly increased. The antoxidant lever of liver and kidney was significantly lowed in high vanadium groupⅢ,ⅣandⅤ. The percentage of apoptotic renal cells was increased in high vanadium groupⅡ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴand the hepatic cells increased in high vanadium groupⅢ,Ⅳ,Ⅴwhen compared with that of control group. The Proliferating index (PI) of renal cell and the ratio of S, G2+M phase cells were markedly decreased and population of G0/G1 cells was increased in high vanadium groupsⅡ,Ⅲ,ⅣV,Ⅴand the PI of hepatic cell, the ratio of S, G2+M phase cells were markedly decreased and population of G0/G1 cells was increased in high vanadium groupsⅢ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ. The results indicated that vanadium (≥30mg/kg) added to the diet was toxic and caused lesion to the liver and kidney of broilers. The function of the liver and kidney were finally impaired when (≥30mg/kg) vanadium added. The toxicity of vanadium was relevant to the lowed antoxidant lever and decreased cell proliferation in liver and kidney in broilers.