Effects of Aluminum Exposure on Growth and Morphological Structure of Cerebrum in Chickens

The model of different level sub-chronic aluminum (Al)intoxication in chickens was established by continuous peritoneal injection of various gradient aluminum trichloride (AlCl3). The growth index of cerebrum was measured and the morphological structure of it was observed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. The results showed that:(1)The growth index of cerebrum was lower in experimental groups than in the control group and there were significant differences between the middle, high dose groups and the control group, and there was dose-effect relationship with AlCl3. (2)Under optical microscope, pathological changes were not observed in low dose group. However, the changes of swell, atrophy, necrosis and karyopycnosis were observed in the pyramidal neuron of cerebrum in middle and high dose groups. (3)Under transmission electron microscope, pathological changes were not observed in low dose group. In middle and high dose groups, cell membranes swelling, the interlacement among neural microfilament and canaliculus, vortical apoptosis, intracytoplasm vacuolization, the deletion of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, mitochondria swelling and crista fragmentation were observed in cerebrum centrum neurocytes; the medullary sheath of non-medullated nerve fiber was blured, and folded membrane was increased and deepen. The results indicated that the growth and development of cerebrum were inhibited seriously and the morphological structures were damaged apparently with Al intoxication in chickens.