Document Detail


Effects of silymarin on gossypol toxicosis in divergent lines of chickens.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20709972     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Gossypol, a pigment of cotton, is a hepatic toxin for chickens. Thus, despite its high protein content, inclusion of cottonseed meal in poultry diets is problematic. Silymarin, an extract from milk thistle, has hepatoprotective qualities and could potentially serve as a feed additive to offset the toxicity of gossypol. The objective of this study was to determine if silymarin could counteract gossypol toxicosis. Cockerels (n = 144) from lines divergently selected for humoral immunity were used. Three individuals from each line were randomly assigned to a cage and fed a corn-soybean meal (control) diet for 14 d. Six cages per line were then randomly assigned 1 of 4 dietary treatments (1,000 mg/kg of gossypol, 1,000 mg/kg of silymarin, 1,000 mg/kg of both gossypol and silymarin, or a control diet). Body weight and feed intake data were collected for 21 d, with chickens bled weekly to collect plasma and determine hematocrits. Chickens were then killed, and livers were collected for subsequent histology and enzymatic activity analyses. Endpoints measured weekly were analyzed with repeated measures and regression methodologies. Plasma and liver enzyme activities, and histological measures, were analyzed using ANOVA. No significant interactions between diets and lines were observed. Chickens assigned to the gossypol and gossypol-silymarin diets stopped gaining weight at d 14 (P < 0.001) and lost weight by d 21 (P < 0.001). Gamma glutamyltransferase was also elevated in these chickens at d 14; activities increased further by d 21 (P < 0.001). Histological examination of liver slices indicated substantial lipidosis (P < 0.001). Furthermore, quinone reductase activity was higher in gossypol- and gossypol-silymarin-treated chickens than in control and silymarin-treated chickens (P < 0.001). Silymarin did not alleviate any clinical effects of gossypol toxicosis.
Authors:
S Blevins; P B Siegel; D J Blodgett; M Ehrich; G K Saunders; R M Lewis
Publication Detail:
Type:  Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Poultry science     Volume:  89     ISSN:  0032-5791     ISO Abbreviation:  Poult. Sci.     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-16     Completed Date:  2010-10-26     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0401150     Medline TA:  Poult Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1878-86     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animal Feed
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Body Weight
Chickens* / genetics
Diet / veterinary
Eating
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Gossypol / toxicity*
Liver / enzymology
Male
Poultry Diseases / chemically induced*
Protective Agents / therapeutic use*
Silymarin / therapeutic use*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Protective Agents; 0/Silymarin; 303-45-7/Gossypol

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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