IMPACT OF DIETARY ZINC OXIDE NANO-PARTICLES ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS, LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTIONS IN ALEXANDRIA CHICKENS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different forms of Zinc oxide as bulk and nano particles supplemented diet on hematological profile, antioxidant status, liver and kidney functions of Alexandria chickens. A total of 150 females and 25 males of Alexandria chickens at an age of 32 weeks were randomly divided into five groups in each group 30 female and 5 male for 12 weeks. The first group served as control group. Birds of the 2 nd and 3 rd groups were fed basal diet containing 40 and 80 mg zinc oxide (Bulk shape, ZnO) per kg diet and the 4 th and 5 th groups were fed basal diet containing 40 and 80 mg zinc oxide (Nano shape, ZnO-NPs) per kg diet, respectively. The results indicated that Hb and MCHC were significantly increased with the dose of 40 mg/kg ZnO. Data obtained revealed that there is a significant effect of zinc oxide forms on antioxidant status. While, 80 mg/kg ZnO-NPs caused a significant increase on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), but malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was the lowest with the dose of 80 mg/kg ZnO-NPs. Total protein and albumin were affected by zinc oxide forms, sex and the interaction between them, but globulin was not significantly affected. Also, zinc oxide forms supplementation had no significant effect on liver and kidney functions. Generally, it can be considered that zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) at a dose of 80 mg/kg addition to Alexandria chickens’ diet can enhance physiological and antioxidant statuses.