Effects of different levels of copper sulfate on small on intestinal physiology in japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different Levels of copper sulfate on small intestine morphometry in Japanese quail. Four hundred and twenty, day old male Japanese quail randomly assigned into 5 treatments with 4 replicates (each replicates contain 20 birds). All experimental birds were received basal diet without copper sulfate from day 1 to 7. At day 8, experimental birds were received experimental diets: Control group (A) received basal diet, whereas B, C, D and E groups were received basal diet supplemented by 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg copper sulfate, respectively. At day 42, three birds from each group were randomly selected and slaughtered. Various sections of small intestine (10, 50 and 70 small intestine length) sampled, rinsed with phosphate to measure villi length and depth of liberkuhn crypts. According to the results, a significant increase was observed in depth of liberkuhn crypts (10% intestine length) and villi height (70% intestine length) in birds fed diet contain 200 mg copper sulfate (p 0.05). It seems, different Levels of copper sulfate were not able to improve small intestine morphometry in Japanese quail.