Bioaccumulation and cytological alteration of immune organs of chicken following inorganic arsenic exposure

Abstract

Arsenic is an ecotoxicant that has been found to affect both mammal and avian population. The present study deals with the arsenic deposition in different immune organs of arsenic exposed broiler chicken. Further, its effect on immune cell function and histological alteration was investigated. The study revealed that bursa and liver were the most arsenic deposition prone sites as compared to other immune organs. Histopathological study of the immune organs showed significant structural changes like increased bursal medullary region along with follicular atrophy and detachment of outer serosal layer from the muscularis layer in bursa, decrease in average diameter of white pulp in spleen, decreased cortical as well as medullary region along with less number of Hassall's corpuscle in thymus in the arsenic exposed birds. Arsenic induced apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was also detected and a positive correlation between apoptotic index and dose of arsenic was observed. It may be concluded that insult to avian immune organ by any toxic compound may threaten immune response and may lead to immunosuppression.