Effects of Aluminum Intoxication on Immune Function in Chickens

Model of different level´s sub-chronic aluminum intoxication in chickens was established by continuous peritoneal injection of different gradient aluminum trichloride (AlCl₃). The contents of Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca and Cu in serum, spleen and bursa of Fabricius, the contents of Complement 3(C₃), Complement 4(C₄), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in serum were detected. The results showed that the contents of Al, C₄ and TNF-alpha were higher and the contents of Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mn, C₃ and IL-2 were lower in chickens with aluminum intoxication than the control group, and the contents had dose-effect relationship with AlCl₃. The results indicated that aluminum intoxication inhibited the immune function of chickens.