ASPECTS OF BIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN BREEDER TOMS AFTER TREATMENT WITH SUBCUTANEOUS CADMIUM INJECTION - ALTERATIONS IN BODY AND SELECTED ORGAN WEIGHTS

Forty-eight yearling breeder toms were evaluated to determine their re sponses to parenteral subcutaneous cadmium injection. Each treated mem ber of the 24 pairs of birds received a single dose of 0.04 m-mole cor responding to 4.5 mg/kg body weight. Toxicological responses based on macroscopic alterations in the spleen, liver, kidney, testes and live body weights were assessed at 0, 6, 24 and 192 h post treatment. Cadmi um-treated birds generally displayed a lethargic and debilitated behav iour betraying possible toxic reactions to the metal. Feed intake was significantly reduced by the Cd treatment. No significant changes were observed in the wet weights of the spleen, liver, right and left test es of the cadmium-injected birds. Nodular outgrowths, extensive hemorr hage, greyish or pallid discoloration and occasional mottling were obs erved on the liver of those exposed to cadmium for over 24 hours. Body weight was significantly depressed and kidney weight increased in the cadmium-treated toms. It was concluded that these observations were i ndicative of possible degenerative histological changes in the affecte d birds due to the Cd administration.