The objective of present experimental study was to ascertain the reproductive and some serum biochemical effects following oral administration of arsenic and copper sulfate in adult male birds. For this purpose, adult cockerels (Lohmann Selected White Leghorn) were randomly allotted into seven equal groups. The male birds were fed with a standard control diet containing 20% crude proteins. Arsenic and copper sulfate significantly (P≤0.05) decreased the absolute weight of testes, liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, heart and thymus in male birds. Histologically, the liver was congested and showed extensive fatty infiltration and biliary hyperplasia. Kidneys showed renal tubular necrosis, hypertrophy of glomeruli, and congestion. Different microscopic changes such as necrosis nuclei of spermatids, admixture of necrotic spermatids and disorganization of seminiferous tubules along with arrest of spermatogenesis were observed in testicular tissues. Furthermore, arsenic and copper sulfate significantly decreased plasma proteins, serum total proteins, serum globulins and albumins concentrations in birds. Conversely, the concentrations of serum urea, creatinine and alkaline phosphatase were increased in birds given arsenic and copper sulfate. The concentrations of lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde), levels of liver enzyme (aspartate aminotransferase) and cardiac biomarkers (CK-MB, triglyceride and cholesterol) increased significantly in birds treated with arsenic and copper sulfate. In summary, we showed that subacute exposure of birds to arsenic and copper sulfate induced oxidative stress and different tissue changes in birds.

Key words: Arsenic, Birds, Copper sulphate, Histopathology, Serum biochemistry