ANAND KUMAR, A.A (Major)SRI LATHA, ChRAJA SEKHAR REDDY, AKALAVATHI, S2016-12-232016-12-232009-10http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/92424THESESABSTRACT : Arsenic is a heavy metal resulting in to toxicity in livestock and poultry as it is abundantly present in the air, water and also as industrial pollutant leads to oxidative stress. The present study was undertaken to study the pathological studies on sodium arsenite induced toxicity and its amelioration by antioxidants in broiler chicks. Day old broiler chicks were divided into 6 groups of 18 birds each. Group I was served with basal diet for 6 weeks. Group II :basal diet + Sodium arsenite (150 ppm) for 6 weeks. Group III : basal diet + Ascorbic acid (200 ppm) for 6 weeks. Group IV : basal diet + Vitamin-E (300 ppm) for 6 weeks. Group V : basal diet + Sodium arsenite (150 ppm) + Ascorbic acid (200 ppm) for 6 weeks. Group VI : basal diet + Sodium arsenite (150 ppm) + Vitamin-E (300 ppm) for 6 weeks. Body weight gains, feed consumption and FCR were recorded in each group at weekly intervals. Blood, serum and tissue samples were collected for haemato-biochemical, oxidative stress and histopathological studies. Feeding of sodium arsenite @ 150 ppm resulted in significant reduction in the body weight gains, feed consumption and increase in FCR. Dullness, depression, loss of appetite, dehydration, reduced feed consumption and body weights were observed in the birds fed with sodium arsenite alone. Haematological studies revealed that overall mean values of Hb, PCV, TEC and TLC were significantly reduced in sodium arsenite group in comparison to other groups. The biochemical assays showed significant reduction in total protein, albumin and globulin while significant increase in AST, creatinine, GGT and A/G ratio was observed in sodium arsenite group. In As + Ascorbic acid and As + Vitamin-E groups showed significant improvement in all the parameters in comparison to sodium arsenite group. Oxidative stress showed significant decrease in GSH in sodium arsenite group.In As + Ascorbic acid and As + Vitamin-E groups showed significant improvement. The gross pathological changes in sodium arsenite induced group reveald echymotic haemorrhages on heart, congestion and fine streaks of linear haemorrhages on liver congestion of intestinal mucosa, swollen kidneys and haemorrahgic and regressed spleen. The histopathological changes in sodium arsenite group revealed disruption of cardiac muscle bundles, fatty change in heart. Liver sections showed sinusoidal congestion, fatty changes, focal areas of lymphoid aggregation. Fibrous tissue proliferation around the central vein, degeneration and necrosis. Section of intestine showed few broad, united villi and tips were disruptured, sub mucosal congestion and presence of petechiae. Kidney sections showed inter and intra tubular haemorrhages, congestion, fatty change, infiltration of mononuclear cells and degeneration of tubules. Spleen sections showed depletion of lymphocytes, thickening of trabecular arteries and haemorrhages. Depletion of lymphocytes, atrophy of bursal follicles and cystic spaces were observed in bursa of Fabricius. In As + Ascorbic acid and As + Vitamin-E groups lesions were mild in various organs, which might be due to protective effect of antioxidants. The present study concluded that Ascorbic acid @ 200 ppm and Vitamin-E @ 300 ppm in feed were effective in counteracting the toxic effect of arsenic.enBROILER CHICKS; sodium arsenite; toxicity; amelioration; antioxidantsThesis