Abstract
The effect of feeding a diet containing 5% tansy ragwort (TR) (Senecio jacobaea), a poisonous plant containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), on the blood and liver levels of copper, zinc, iron and vitamin A in broiler chicks was examined. Serum and liver copper and liver iron concentrations were increased in chicks fed a diet with 5% TR, while serum and liver zinc and vitamin A decreased. When PA were removed from the diet, partial restoration of normal serum vitamin A level occurred, indicating that the ability to mobilize liver vitamin A is not irreversibly inhibited by PA. The decline in serum vitamin A occurred by 8 days of TR feeding with a concurrent decline in growth rate. When chicks were fed a diet high in vitamin A (25 000 IU/kg), followed by a basal diet containing TR, serum vitamin A levels were significantly (P <0.01) decreased, while liver vitamin A level increased. This indicates that mobilization of previously stored vitamin A from the liver is impaired by PA. Prior feeding of a high vitamin A level resulted in protective effects against PA toxicity, as assessed by histopathology. This study shows that a dietary source of PA modifies metabolism and tissue distribution of minerals and vitamin A.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 139-153 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Toxicology Letters |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 2-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chick
- Copper
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloid
- Senecio jacobaea
- Vitamin A
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Toxicology