[Effect of carotenoids on selected indicators of cellular immunity in cockerels receiving food with high level of vitamin A].

The experiment was carried out on 50 slaughter cocks, aged 5 weeks. The purpose of the experiment was to estimate the effect of beta-carotene and apo-beta-carotenoic acid (10% Carophyll yellow) on some indices of cellular immunity in chicks receiving the feed of high vitamin A content. Chl and NBT proved that carotenoids increased phagocytic activity of neutrophiles in peripheral blood. Similarly, in the case of beta-carotene it was found by blastic transformation test that on 30-40th day of the experiment, the value IS of peripheral blood lymphocytes was increased. On the other hand, chicks fed apo-beta-carotenoic acid showed such an effect on 40th day of observation only in the case when the lowest dose of preparation (24 mg/kg of feed) and Con A as mitogen were applied. In each experimental group, the chicks exhibited increased flavin content in liver and markedly increased retinol content due to apo-beta-carotenoic acid (24 mg/kg of feed). On the other hand, the contents of alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid did not show significant differences between experimental and control groups. Similar were the results with iron, zinc and magnesium. Copper content of the liver was markedly increased in the birds receiving apo-beta-carotenoic acid in the dose of 24 mg/kg of feed. The increased content of manganese was observed in the liver of birds receiving beta carotene (6 mg/kg of feed).