HISTOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL LESIONS OF THE KIDNEY IN EXPERIMENTAL OCHRATOXICOSIS OF BROILER

Abstract: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic/carcinogenic mycotoxin; produced by several Aspergillus- and Penicillium-strains. It also have a hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive effect. The aim of the study was to evidentiate the histological and ultrastructural lesions of the kidney in an experimental ochratoxicosis pattern of broiler chickens from 1st to 21st day of life.. Administration of OA in dose of 1mg/kg determined small degenerative lesions of epithelial cells of convoluted tubules; alternating with unchanged zones after 7th and 14th day of the experiment. After the 21st day mitochondria reduction in size; loose of mitochondrial membrane integrity and nuclear lesions were clearly observed. In dose of 9 mg/kg/day OA induced more significant lesions characterized by hypertrophia of epithelial cells of convoluted tubules and degenerative changes of them and tickening of basal membrane of Malpighi corpuscles. Administration of OA in dose of 20mg/kg determined severe lesions of both convoluted tubules and glomeruli of the kidney. The collagen fibers increased into the interstium and the basal membrane of the tubes increase. Ultrastructurally; in 14th and 21st day of OA poisoning abnormal shape and dimensions of mitochondria and peroxysomes; lipidic droplets into the citoplasma and nucleus; round; electronodense bodies; enlarged smooth endoplasmatic reticulus and intracitoplasmatic and intranuclear myelin-like; figures were observed into epithelial cells of convoluted tubules