​Histopathological Grading of Induced Cardiotoxicity Due to Arsenic and its Alleviation by Allium sativum in Ducks

Background: Arsenic present in underground water affects the overall health. The therapeutic effects of Allium sativum was investigated for ameliorating the toxic effects of arsenic exposed ducks. Even though, heavy metals especially arsenic toxicity and ameliorative effects of Allium sativum has been largely studied, yet the histopathological cardiac lesion grading and its correlation with oxidative stress and biochemical parameters is scarce. This study is aimed at evaluating cardiotoxic lesions due to arsenic and ameliorative effects of Allium sativum in accordance with histopathological grading with respect to oxidative and biochemical parameters. Methods: In the present study, 105 birds were randomly distributed in 5 groups. GRP II was given arsenic @ 30 ppm whereas GRP III, IV, V were given Allium sativum @ 0.5 gm/ kg feed, 1 gm/kg feed and 2 gm/kg feed respectively along with arsenic to study the ameliorative effects. At the end of 42 days, 6 birds from each group were slaughtered after blood collection and the extend of arsenic toxicity with Allium sativum effects were studied as biochemical and oxidative parameters with histopathological grading of lesions. The extent of lesions was graded as mild (+), moderate (++) and severe (+++). Result: Grossly, heart revealed dilatation and thickening of ventricular wall in GRP II along with congestion in coronary vessels. In GRP V, grossly heart revealed no congestion and comparatively reduced enlargement. Whereas microscopically, myocardial and epicardial oedema, disruption of muscle fiber and hemorrhage was observed. Along with this, there was increase in cardiac biomarkers - Total serum creatinine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels and tissue oxidative parameters (LPO), with decrease in GSH, CAT, total antioxidant and SOD levels in GRP II which was comparably restored in GRP V.