Ameliorating effect of methionine on experimental aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens: Histo-pathological and histo-enzymic studies

Histo-pathological and histo-enzymic studies of vital organs were made under dietary excess of methionine (0.30, 0.50, 0.65 or 0.80%) during experimental aflatoxicosis (aflatoxin B₁ 300 ppb) in broiler chickens. Dietary aflatoxin severely damaged the hepatic, renal and bursa of Fabricious tissues while no change was noticed in the spleen, heart and proventriculus. Methionine repaired the damages in liver and kidney tissues; the effect was directly proportional to its dietary level. The histoenzymic studies showed that the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactose dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase and maltase dehydrogenase were affected due to the consumption of aflatoxin, whereas the dietary excess of methionine could ameliorate the tissue injuries. It could be concluded that dietary excess of methionine has mitigating effect in aflatoxicated broilers.