Muscle atrophy induced in broiler chicks by parts of Senna occidentalis seeds

• Published in: Veterinary research communications Vol. 22; no. 4; p. 265
• Main Authors: Haraguchi, M. (Biological Inst. of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP (Brazil). Section of Pharmacology), Calore, E.E, Dagli, M.L.Z, Cavaliere, M.J, Calore, N.M.P, Weg, R, Raspantini, P.C, Gorniak, S.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.06.1998
• Subjects: ALIMENT POUR ANIMAUX; Animal Feed; Animals; ATROFIA; ATROPHIE; ATROPHY; Body Weight; Brazil; BROILER CHICKENS; CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS; Chickens; CONTAMINACION; CONTAMINATION; ENFERMEDADES MUSCULARES; FEEDS; Food Contamination; GRAINE; Muscular Atrophy - etiology; Muscular Atrophy - pathology; Muscular Atrophy - veterinary; MUSCULAR DISEASES; MYOPATHIE; Pectoralis Muscles - drug effects; Pectoralis Muscles - pathology; PIENSOS; POLLO DE ENGORDE; POULET DE CHAIR; Poultry Diseases - etiology; Poultry Diseases - pathology; Random Allocation; SEEDS; Seeds - toxicity; SEMILLA; Senna Extract - toxicity; SUBSTANCE TOXIQUE; SUSTANCIAS TOXICAS; TOXIC SUBSTANCES; Brazil
• ISSN: 0165-7380; 1573-7446
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006051618056

Senna occidentalis (formerly Cassia occidentalis) is a common contaminant of agricultural commodities. It is toxic to cattle and poultry, reportedly being responsible for skeletal myodegeneration in these animals. All parts of the plant present toxicity, but the seeds are the most toxic. The toxin(s) responsible for the myodegeneration have not been definitively identified, nor is it known which part of the seeds is most toxic. Intoxication by this plant leads to weight loss with considerable economic repercussions. The effects of the whole seed and of parts of S. occidentalis seeds (1% in commercial feed) were compared on the pectoralis major muscle of broiler chicks intoxicated from birth until 22 days of life. There were severe clinical signals and reduced body weight in birds that received the external tegment of the seed, whereas no adverse effects were observed in birds that received the whole seed or other parts of the seed. Histological and morphometric studies showed an intense muscle fibre atrophy (both type 1 and type 2 fibres were affected) in the group that received 1% external tegment. This study may be the first step to identifying the substance(s) involved in this pathological process.