THE EFFECT OF FEEDING TOXIC GROUNDNUT MEAL TO CHICKENS ON OXIDIZED PYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDES LEVELS OF LIVER AND SERUM.

The extinction coefficient at 260 mmicro (E(260)) of the acid extracts of liver homogenates and sera of chickens were measured during six weeks of feeding with a ration containing 30 per cent groundnut meal contaminated with toxic metabolites of Aspergillus flavus. The data indicated a significant depression of E(260) values of liver extracts following two weeks of consumption of the toxic ration. This lowered value returned to within the normal range after four weeks of feeding and remained at this level until the end of the experiment. The E(260) values of sera were also depressed after two weeks of feeding but persisted at this level throughout the duration of the experiment.