Impairment of liver antioxidant defense activity of broiler chickens exposed to benzo[α]pyrene

Abstract

The antioxidant defense activity system is greatly involved in protecting cells against damage initiated by a variety of endogenous and exogenous compounds. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of Benzo[&#945;]Pyrene (B&#945;P) administration on the liver antioxidant defense system. Chicks were assigned into five equal groups, as control, tricaprylin group and three groups treated with B&#945;P (1.5 µg, 150 µg or 15 mg/kg BW). Five birds were sacrificed at days 7, 14, 21 and 35 from each group. To assess the liver antioxidant defense system, glutathione (GSH) concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were employed. It was found that 15 mg of B&#945;P level create significant increase (P<0.05) in the GSH level, GSH-Px, SOD and CAT activities (18.483, 9.88, 69.44 and 89.88 respectively) of broilers at day 7 post-instillation (p.i.) in compared with control (12.392, 6.51, 41.08 and 50.83). Nevertheless, significant decrease (P<0.05) in the GSH level, GSH-Px, SOD and CAT activities at 21 and 35 days. A key finding from this study is that exposure to B&#945;P may induces oxidative stress on the liver and impair the antioxidant defense system in broilers.
Key words:antioxidant ,broiler, benzo[&#945;]Pyrene,liver