Effects of chronic administration of slaframine on production and digestive function in broiler chicks

Slaframine (SF), 1-acetoxy-6-aminooctahydroindolizine a parasympathomimetic with a high affinity for the gastrointestinal tract, was administered by oral intubation daily to 240 broiler chicks at either 0, 8.9, or 17.8 micrograms/kg body weight.75 (BW.75) in saline for 21 days. Throughout the experimental period weight, feed intake, and fecal output were measured. On Day 21 birds were killed, eviscerated, and wet organ weights were obtained. Pancreas and small intestine digesta were homogenized with saline and frozen for analyses of trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase, and lipase activity as well as total protein. Weight, feed intake and utilization, pancreatic weight, liver weight, and small intestine digesta weight were not affected by SF treatment. Protein content of the digesta decreased 16.6% with the 17.8 micrograms SF/kg BW.75 treatment. Digesta lipase activity was 13.3% (P greater than .05) and specific activity 24% less (P less than or equal to .02) in 17.8 micrograms/kg BW.75 treated birds in comparison with those of controls, and activities decreased in a linear fashion across treatment levels (P less than or equal to .04). Digesta trypsin-specific activity decreased linearly with SF treatment (P less than or equal to .05), averaging 5.5 to 16.9% lower than control treated birds. Pancreatic chymotrypsin-specific activity was not significantly different among treatments. These results suggest that relatively small dosages of SF may affect digestive function of broiler chicks.