Cardiovascular responsiveness in chickens as related to mercuric chloride

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Poult. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6430315

Thaxton, P; Brake, J; Young, P S; Edens, F W

Mercuric chloride (HgCl/sub 2/) was administered continuously to broiler chickens in drinking water at the levels of 0, 150, and 300 ..mu..g./ml. At four weeks of age electrocardiograms (EKG) were determined and the birds were sacrificed. The heart and a 5 mm. proximal section of the aorta were dissected, weighed, and evaluated histologically. In Trials 3 and 4 the chicks received feed and water devoid of mercury. At eight weeks of age the birds were given 3 mg. HgCl/sub 2//kg. body weight (I.M.) on each of five consecutive days and the controls received saline injections. At 72 hours after the last injection EKG's were determined and the birds were sacrificed for their hearts and aortae. Growth was inhibited by chronic, but not the acute, HgCl/sub 2/ treatments. Neither chronic nor acute HgCl/sub 2/ affected relative heart weights; however, chronic HgCl/sub 2/ caused increased relative aorta weights. A myocardial histopathology, which was characterized by leucocytic infiltration and necrotic foci, was caused by acute HgCl/sub 2/. The cardiovascular system of chickens seems to be sensitive to both toxic and non-toxic levels of HgCl/sub 2/.

• Research Organization: North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh
• OSTI ID: 6430315
• Journal Information: Poult. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Poult. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 54:5; ISSN POSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHICKENS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRINKING WATER
FOWL
GROWTH
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEART
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INGESTION
INTAKE
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
VERTEBRATES
WATER