. Effects of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) meal on skin thickness and fat deposition in commercial broiler chickens. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 20, No 2,[118][119][120][121][122][123][124] Excessive deposition of fat in the skin of commercial chickens has major implications on human health. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been reported to have hypolipidaemic effect in animals. The effect of garlic on fat deposition in the skin of commercial broilers was therefore investigated. One hundred and sixty day-old Arbor acres broilers of different sexes were randomly separated into four groups. Group A was fed a plain ration; group B had 0.125% garlic meal (GM) in feed continuously, group C -0.125% GM at pulse inclusion (on for 2 weeks and off for 2 weeks) and group D -0.25% GM continuously. At 4 and 8 weeks of age, five broilers per group were randomly selected, euthanised and back cape skin sections were harvested and processed for histology. Epidermal as well as dermalhypodermal thicknesses were measured. Data were statistically analysed using Duncan's multiple range test and Student's t-test at P<0.05. The epidermis in the control group (Group A) was significantly different vs the other groups at 8 weeks of age. Dermal-hypodermal thickness of group C (15296.1±965.7 µm) was significantly higher vs other groups at 4 weeks of age. Fat globules were relatively more abundant in the hypodermis of group A at 4 and 8 weeks of age, while collagen fibres in the dermis were relatively denser in the GM-supplemented groups. It was concluded that garlic inclusion in feed of commercial broilers resulted in thinner epidermis and denser collagen fibres in the dermis causing thicker dermis-hypodermis, as well as decreased fat deposits in the hypodermis.

Background:The important roles of liver and kidney in the elimination of injurious chemicals make them highly susceptible to the noxious activities of various toxicants including cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ). This study was designed to investigate the role of glycine in the mitigation of hepato-renal toxicities associated with CoCl 2 exposure.Methods: Forty-two (42) male rats were grouped as Control; (CoCl 2 ; 300 ppm);CoCl 2 + Glycine (50 mg/kg); CoCl 2 + Glycine (100 mg/kg); Glycine (50 mg/kg); and Glycine (100 mg/kg). The markers of hepatic and renal damage, oxidative stress, the antioxidant defense system, histopathology, and immunohistochemical localization of neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and renal podocin were evaluated.Results: Glycine significantly reduced the markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde content and H 2 O 2 generation), liver function tests (ALT, AST, and ALP), markers of renal function (creatinine and BUN), and decreased the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and podocin compared with rats exposed to CoCl 2 toxicity without glycine treatment. Histopathology lesions including patchy tubular epithelial necrosis, tubular epithelial degeneration and periglomerular inflammation in renal tissues, and severe portal hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, and duct hyperplasia were observed in hepatic tissues of rats exposed to CoCl 2 toxicity, but were mild to absent in glycine-treated rats. Conclusion:The results of this study clearly demonstrate protective effects of glycine against CoCl 2 -induced tissue injuries and derangement of physiological activities of the hepatic and renal systems in rats. The protective effects are mediated via augmentation of total antioxidant capacity and upregulation of NGAL and podocin expression.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental pollutant, a monomer used in the polymer industry to produce plastics. BPA has been reported to cause deleterious effects in both humans and animals. Naringin is one of the flavonoids with antioxidant and metal chelating properties. This study was carried out to assess the potential ameliorative effect of naringin on BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in cockerel chicks. Thirty-one-day old cockerel chicks used for this study were randomly divided into 6 groups of five chicks per group as follows: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (BPA 100 mg/kg), Group 3 (BPA + 100 mg/kg naringin), Groups 4 (BPA + 200 mg/kg naringin), Group 5 (100 mg/kg naringin) and Group 6 (100 mg/kg naringin), respectively. The administration of BPA and naringin was through oral gavage. BPA intoxication precipitated significant (p < 0.05) increased ALT, ALP, AST, TC, TG, LDL, but decreased total protein and HDL-cholesterol when compared with the control. Also, there was a significant increase in hepatic H2O2 generation and MDA content with concomitant decrease in reduce glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase activity in BPA intoxicated chicks. Histology revealed a moderate diffuse sinusoidal congestion, with a severe periportal cellular infiltration in BPA intoxicated chicks. Immunohistochemistry results revealed a higher expression of hepatic caspase 3 and TNF-α in chicks exposed to BPA alone relative to the control and chicks treated with naringin (100 mg/g and 200 mg/kg). Findings from this study showed that naringin administration restored hepatoxicity, improved antioxidant status, and lowered exaggerated values of cholesterol, oxidative stress indices, and ameliorated ultrastructure anarchy. Combining all, the incorporation of naringin into poultry feeds could position the flavonoid as a novel antioxidant and metal chelator with beneficial effects in the reduction of toxicities associated with environmental pollutants such as bisphenol A, thereby boosting production efficiency in livestock production.

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