Histological and ultrastructural changes induced by long term feeding of imidacloprid and amelioration with vitamin C and Withania somnífera in layer birds

The study was carried out on above 2 months old 48 layer birds for 90 days to elucidate the histopathological and ultrastructural alterations induced by imidacloprid and to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C and Withania somnifera. The birds were divided in six groups: Group 1 (control), group 2 (imidacloprid @ 200 ppm in feed), group 3 (vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed), group 4 (imidacloprid@200ppm and vitamin C 200ppm), group 5 (Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed) and group 6 (imidacloprid @ 200 ppm in feed + Vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed + Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed).Grossly, congested and enlarged liver and atrophied spleen with varied severity was seen at day 60 and 90 in group 2. Histologically, degenerative and necrotic changes in the hepatic lobules, renal tubular degeneration and atrophied glomeruli andendocardial hemorrhages were observed in group 2. In group 6, mild to moderate degenerative changes in the hepatic lobules depending on the time interval was noted. Mild pathologicalchanges were noticed in group 4. Ultrastructurally, cytoplasmic, nuclear, rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria revealed alterationsin liver and kidney in toxic group. Vitamin C and Withania somnifera supplementation resultedmoderate protection by repair and regeneration of damaged tissues.