Oxidative Stress Induced by Diclofenac Alone and under the Influence of Certain Variables in Broilers

Diclofenac toxicity was studied in male broiler chicks (Cobb strain) of a day old age. The chicks were randomly divided into eight groups consisting of 10 in each group. Group 1 was kept as basal diet control (1–32 days), group 2 on basal diet for 32 days + diclofenac (0.8 mg/kg body weight I/M) on day 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32, group 3 on basal diet for 32 days + cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body weight I/M once daily) from day 20 to 23, group 4 on high-protein, high-calcium, low vitamin A (HPHC) diet (1–32 days), group 5 on basal diet + diclofenac + cyclophosphamide (as per the schedule), group 6 on HPHC + diclofenac (as per the schedule), group 7 on HPHC + cyclophosphamide (as per the schedule), and group 8 on HPHC + diclofenac + cyclophosphamide (as per the schedule). The activity of TBARS, SOD, and catalase revealed a significant (P< 0.05) increase, while there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the concentration of GSH in liver in the groups given diclofenac either alone or in combination with other variables. There was no significant difference in the diclofenac residue levels. The electron microscopy of liver revealed lesions of mild to marked severity in different combinations. It can be concluded that diclofenac has the toxic potential in poultry at subtherapeutic doses and further the toxic effects were more pronounced under the influence of immunosuppressants and HPHC diet.