Effects of long-term aluminum exposure on certain serum constituents in broiler chickens

The aim of this work was to study the effects of 35 days exposure to aluminium on certain serum biochemical quantities in chickens. Broiler chicks (TETRA-726 hybrid, male) were kept in a climate-controlled stall with feed and water ad libitum, from day 1 of age, for 7 weeks. From the beginning of the third week aluminium was added to the diet as aluminium chloride. Treatments included supplemental aluminium content of 0, 200, 1000 and 3000 mg/kg ration. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from the v. ulnaris. The treated groups showed significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase activities, as well as increased cholesterol concentrations and decreased triacylglycerol concentrations, and these changes were dose-dependent. The concentration of uric acid was significantly higher in the group receiving 1000 mg/kg ration, but significantly lower in the group receiving 3000 mg/kg ration, compared with the controls. In the treated groups, the concentration of glucose, as well as the activities of cholinesterase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and creatine kinase were similar in the controls and treated animals. High levels of alkaline phosphatase are due to increased osteoblastic activity, provoked by the disturbance of bone formation, caused in turn by aluminium. Alterations in serum uric acid may be connected with metabolic disturbances (e.g. renal function, cation--anion balance etc.). Neither hepatic nor muscle damage was found.