Effects of Aflatoxin B Exposure and Sodium Selenite Supplementation on the Histology, Cell Proliferation, and Cell Cycle of Jejunum in Broilers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B (AFB) exposure and sodium selenite supplementation on the histology, cell proliferation and cell cycle of jejunum in broilers. A total of 240 1-day-old male AA broilers were divided into four groups of 60 each, fed with basal diet (control group), 0.3 mg/kg AFB (AFB group), 0.4 mg/kg supplement Se (Se group), and 0.3 mg/kg AFB + 0.4 mg/kg supplement Se (AFB + Se group) for 21 days, respectively. Compared with the control group, decreased jejunal villus height, villus height/crypt ratio, and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells, and G/M phase arrest and shedded epithelial cells on the tip of jejunal villus were observed in AFB groups at 7 and 14 days of age. However, the villus/crypt ratio, PCNA-positive cells and cell percentage of G/G, S, and G/M phases had no significant differences between AFB group and control group at 21 days. Simultaneous supplementation with sodium selenite restored these parameters to be close to those in control group. In conclusion, 0.3 mg/kg AFB in the diet inhibits the development of broiler's jejunum by reducing cellular proliferation and inducing G/M arrest during only the first 2 weeks after hatching. Supplementation of dietary sodium selenite at the concentration of 0.4 mg/kg Se had protective action against these toxic effects of AFB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]