Evaluation of the morphological changes in the shell gland of the Japanese quail post-exposure to carbendazim^®

Abstract

Carbendazim is widely used in the field and post-harvest crops for control of fungal infection. The present study investigated the effect of various doses of carbendazim on the morphology of the shell gland of the Japanese quail using both histological and ultrastructural techniques. Carbendazim in sunflower oil was administered orally at doses of 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg bodyweight. Control birds received only the oil base. No morphological changes were observed in the shell gland in birds treated with carbendazim at doses of 25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg bodyweight. At histological level, carbendazim caused pyknosis and glandular atrophy. Carbendazim also caused significant decrease in the height of mucosal folds, epithelial height, glandular width and glandular luminal diameter (P < 0.05). At ultrastructural level, dose dependent deciliation and swollen cilia were observed. Pyknotic nuclei, dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), swollen mitochondria and vacuoles were observed in degenerating cells in both luminal and glandular epithelia. The observed degenerative changes could be due to cytoskeletal disruption caused by carbendazim toxicity.

Key words: carbendazim, shell gland, morphometry, ultrastructure, Japanese quail