ASSESSMENT OF APOPTOSIS AND NECROSIS IN SPLEEN AND THYMUS UNDER SUBLETHAL DOSE OF AFLATOXIN AND OCHRATOXIN

Abstract

A study was undertaken to assess the induction of apoptosis and necrosis in splenocytes and thymocytes of broiler chicks on feeding sublethal dose of aflatoxin (AF) or ocharatoxin (OA). Three week old broiler birds were fed 100ppb of AF or OA and were sacrificed at 24, 48, 72 and 96h post-treatment (PT). Spleen and thymus of the birds were taken and the induction of apoptosis and necrosis were studied by flow cytometry and histopathology. AF and OA groups showed significant (P<0.05) induction of apoptosis and necrosis in splenocytes at 72h PT and maximum induction of apoptosis in thymocytes at 96h and necrosis at 72h PT as determined by flowcytometry. In the spleen and thymus of AF fed birds, clusters of apoptotic cells were observed. In OA fed birds, isolated apoptotic cells in spleen and cluster of apoptotic cells in thymus were observed. Isolated lymphoid cells in spleen and thymus revealed necrosis characterized by cell swelling, eosinophilia of cytoplasm, pyknosis and karyorrhexis.

Keywords

• apoptosis
• aflatoxin
• ochratoxin
• thymus
• spleen