Effect of vitamin E and synthetic antioxidants on the survival rate of mercury-poisoned Japanese quail.

Abstract

The effect of vitamin E and the synthetic antioxidants, 6-ethyoxy,1,2-dihydro 2,2,4-trimethylquinoline (ethoxyquin), 2,6 bis(1,1 dimethyethyl)-4-methylphenol (BHT), N,N-diphenyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPPD), bis-(diethyl thiocarbamoyl) disulfide (Antabuse), and 2 tertiary-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (BHA) on organic mercury-induced mortality was investigated in Japanese quail. When the synthetic antioxidants, ethoxyquin, BHT, and Antabuse were fed at 1% of the diet, they induced mortality. Ethoxyquin was less toxic in combination with mercury (Hg) than when it or mercury was given alone. Of the antioxidants tested at .5% of the diet, only Antabuse was toxic as shown by increased mortality. At .5% of the diet, both ethoxyquin and DPPD reduced mortality associated with organic Hg poisoning. Neither BHA nor BHT had any effect in reducing Hg toxicity. In fact, mortality from organic Hg was greater when organic Hg was given in combination with .5% BHT than when given alone. Vitamin E was equal or superior to all synthetic antioxidants tested in alleviating the toxicity of organic Hg poisoning. The cause of observed antioxidant protection during organic Hg stress is not known but the protection may result from the ability to scavenge free radicals generated by induction of in vivo peroxidation by the Hg compound.