Toxicological Effects of Nickel Chloride on IgA(+) B Cells and sIgA, IgA, IgG, IgM in the Intestinal Mucosal Immunity in Broilers

The objective of this study was to investigate the toxicological effects of dietary NiCl(2) on IgA(+) B cells and the immunoglobulins including sIgA, IgA, IgG and IgM in the small intestine and cecal tonsil of broilers by the methods of immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two hundred and forty one-day-old avian broilers were randomly divided into four groups and fed on a control diet and three experimental diets supplemented with 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg NiCl(2) for 42 days. Compared with the control group, the IgA(+) B cell number and the sIgA, IgA, IgG, and IgM contents in the NiCl(2)-treated groups were significantly decreased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). It was concluded that dietary NiCl(2) in the excess of 300 mg/kg had negative effects on the IgA(+ ) B cell number and the abovementioned immunoglobulin contents in the small intestine and the cecal tonsil. NiCl(2)-reduced sIgA, IgA, IgG and IgM contents is due to decrease in the population and/or the activation of B cell. The results suggest that NiCl(2) at high levels has intestinal mucosal humoral immunotoxicity in animals.