Pathology of Ochratoxin A–Induced Nephrotoxicity in Japanese Quail and Its Protection by Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.)

The present study was designed to study the protective effect of sea buckthorn (SBT) against renal damage induced by ochratoxin A (OTA) in Japanese quail. Day-old quail chicks were divided into six groups and fed a basal quail chick mash containing 2% SBT leaf powder (group SX), OTA at a dietary level of 3 ppm (group OX), 25 ppm L-β-phenylalanine (Phe) plus 3 ppm OTA (group OP), 2% dietary level of SBT leaf powder plus 3 ppm OTA (group OS), SBT leaf extract at a level of 10%/L of drinking water plus 3 ppm OTA (group OSS), and a standard toxin-free feed (group CX, control) for 21 days. OTA at 3 ppm level in diet grossly revealed mild to moderate renal swelling in OX birds, and the severity was less in the case of OS, OSS, and OP birds. Microscopically, degenerative, necrotic, and inflammatory changes were observed in OX birds, but the changes were less severe in OS, OSS, and OP birds. Ultrastructural studies revealed remarkable and consistent changes in the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs), with severe damage of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in OX birds, whereas SBT-treated birds (groups OS, OSS) had mild changes in mitochondria. A moderate to marked increase in number of peroxisomes in the cytoplasm of PCTs was a consistent finding in the Phe- and SBT-treated groups kept on OTA in comparison to the group fed OTA alone. In conclusion, the inclusion of 2% SBT leaf powder in feed and SBT leaf extract in water provided partial protection against OTA-induced nephropathy in Japanese quail. Patología de la nefrotoxicidad inducida por ocratoxina A en codornices japonesas y su protección por el espino amarillo (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). El presente estudio fue diseñado para estudiar el efecto protector del espino amarillo contra el daño renal inducido por la ocratoxina A (OTA) en codornices japonesas. Polluelos de un día de edad de codornices se asignaron en seis grupos y se alimentaron por 21 días con una dieta basal para polluelo de codorniz que contenía 2% de hojas de espino amarillo en polvo (grupo SX), ocratoxina A en un nivel dietético de 3 ppm (grupo OX), 25 ppm de β-L-fenilalanina (Phe) más 3 ppm de ocratoxina A (grupo OP), 2% de hojas de espino amarillo en polvo a nivel dietético más 3 ppm ocratoxina A (grupo OS), extracto de hojas de espino amarillo en un nivel de 10% por litro de agua de bebida más 3 ppm ocratoxina A (grupo OSS), y una dieta estándar libre de toxinas (grupo CX, control). La ocratoxina A en el nivel 3 ppm en la dieta indujo inf