Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Liver Weight and Selenium Levels in Japanese Quail Given Aflatoxins

Supplementation of aflatoxin B_l@ 1 ppm to 2 week old quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica) resulted in significant (P<0.05) decrease in liver weight at 4th and 5th week post-feeding. This was followed by significant increase in liver weight from 6th week onwards. Initial decrease in liver weight was also noticed in aflatoxin and selenium (sodium selenite @ 5 ppm) supplemented birds but decrease was not followed by an increase in liver weight. A gradual increase in selenium concentration of liver was noticed in the selenium supplemented groups. Supplementation of diet with selenium as sodium selenite was found to have some protective action against hepatotoxic effects of aflatoxin B₁.