Mitigating the Growth, Biochemical Changes, Genotoxic and Pathological Effects of Copper Toxicity in Broiler Chickens by Supplementing Vitamins C and E

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Copper (Cu) is a trace element necessary for biological utility; nevertheless, it can produce significant harmful impacts when existing in abundance. This study examined the efficiency of vitamin C and vitamin E in alleviating the biochemical, genotoxicity, and pathological alterations in the liver induced by copper sulfate (CuSO(4)) toxicity in chickens. The broilers were fed on five experimental diets; basal diet with no additives or basal diets supplemented with 300 mg CuSO(4)/kg, CuSO(4) + 250 mg Vit. C/kg diet, CuSO(4) + 250 mg Vit. E/kg diet, CuSO(4) + 250 mg Vit. C/kg diet + 250 mg Vit. E/kg diet for six weeks. The obtained results suggested that addition of vitamin C and E, especially in combination, was beneficial for alleviating the harmful effects of CuSO(4) toxicity on growth performance and liver histoarchitecture in broiler chickens. ABSTRACT: This experiment was carried out to explore the efficiency of an individual or combined doses of vitamin C (Vit. C) and vitamin E (Vit. E) in alleviating biochemical, genotoxicity, and pathological changes in the liver induced by copper sulfate (CuSO(4)) toxicity in broiler chickens. Two hundred and fifty-one-day-old broiler chicks were haphazardly allotted into five groups (five replicates/group, ten chicks/replicate). The birds were fed five experimental diets; (1) basal diet with no additives (CON), (2) basal diets supplemented with 300 mg CuSO(4)/kg diet (CuSO(4)), (3) basal diets supplemented with 300 mg CuSO(4)/kg diet + 250 mg Vit. C /kg diet, (4) basal diets supplemented with 300 mg CuSO(4)/kg diet +250 mg Vit. E /kg diet, (5) basal diets supplemented with 300 mg CuSO(4)/kg diet + 250 mg Vit. C /kg diet + 250 mg Vit. E /kg diet for six weeks. The results displayed that CuSO(4)-intoxicated birds had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased bodyweight, weight gain, and feed intake with increased feed conversion ratio from the 2nd week till the 6th week compared with the CON. However, these changes were minimized by single or combined supplementation of vitamin C and E. The FCR was insignificantly different in birds-fed diets complemented with vitamin C and E singly or in combination from the 3rd week of age compared to the CON. Serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were elevated in CuSO(4)-intoxicated birds (p < 0.05). Additionally, they showed a drop in serum total protein (TP), albumin, globulins, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels compared to the CON (p < 0.05). Concomitantly, histopathological and DNA changes were perceived in the liver of CuSO(4)-intoxicated birds. Co-supplementation of Vit. C and Vit. E single-handedly or combined with CuSO(4)-intoxicated chickens enhanced the performance traits and abovementioned changes, especially with those given combinations of vitamins. From the extant inquiry, it could be established that supplementation of vitamin C and E was beneficial for mitigating the harmful effects of CuSO(4) toxicity on growth performance and liver histoarchitecture in broiler chickens.