Pathological effects of Ochratoxin A in brain, heart and lung of chicks

This study involved investigation on the toxic effects of Ochratoxin A in various internal organs of chicks (brain, heart and lung). The study showed histopathological effect of Ochratoxin A in group 1 (which were given crude Ochratoxin A orally) and in group 2 (which were fed contaminated feed with toxigenic Aspergillus ochraceus). The histopathological sections of the brain especially cerebrum showed perivascular and perineuronal edema and shrinkage of many neurons due to degeneration with central chromatolysis of the others with massive sub meningeal hemorrhage. Cerebellum tissue sections showed degeneration of purkinge cells. The histopathological sections of heart showed edema and infiltration of heterophils between the muscle fibers and the blood vessels of myocardium undergo hypertrophy of tunica media with proliferation of endothelial cells. Other sections of heart showed thickening of pericardium, edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells and congestion. The histopathological sections of the lung showed severe dilation and congestion of pulmonary arteries with large areas of emphysema.