Growth performance and oxidative damage in kidney induced by oral administration of Cr(III) in chicken

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding chromic chloride (CrCl3) in the drinking water of chickens. Hyland brown male chickens were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups orally received 1/2 LD50, 1/4 LD50, and 1/8 LD50 CrCl3 mg kg−1 body weight daily for 42 d. The fourth group was treated with water. The chickens were sacrificed at 14, 28, and 42 d post-treatment. The renal injury was examined through histological analysis, and kidney mass was determined. The effects on growth performance were assessed by measuring the weight of the body, chest muscles, and leg muscles. Oxidative damage was evaluated by determining the antioxidant defense levels in kidney homogenates. The body weight and the weight of tissues gained time-dependently, but significantly decreased compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05) at the same exposure time. Administering Cr3+ significantly increased the levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione, and hydrogen peroxide in the kidney compared with those in the control groups. Whereas, administering Cr3+ reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total an-tioxidant capacity compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In conclusion, oral administration of CrCl3 decreases the growth performance of chickens, leads to the pathological lesions and affects nephritic antioxidant capacity in the kidney dose- and time-dependently.