The effects of vitamin A, pentoxyfylline and methylprednisolone on experimentally induced amyloid arthropathy in brown layer chicks

Figures & data

Figure 1. Amyloid arthropathy occurrence rate (%) according to congo red stain and immunohistochemistry by light microscopy in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.

Table 1. The frequency and severity of amyloid arthropathy in chickens of five groups^a

		Amyloid deposition rates
Group	Number of chickens	Mild (+)	Moderate (++)	Severe (+++)	Total
I, negative control group	35	0/35 (0%)*	0/35 (0%)*	0/35 (0%)*	0/35 (0%)*
II, vitamin A group	35	5/35 (14.28%)*	11/35 (31.42%)**	19/35 (54.28%)*	35/35 (100%)*
III, positive control group	31	5/31 (16%)*	12/31 (39%)*	10/31 (32%)**	27/31 (87%)*
IV, pentoxyfylline group	34	9/34 (26.47%)*	7/34 (21%)*	10/34 (29.41%)**	26/34 (76%)*
V, methylprednisolone group	35	6/35 (17.14%)*	9/35 (26%)**	8/35 (23%)*	23/35 (66%)*
^aThe differences between the groups were calculated for each column separately, and between every two values the statistical significance of the difference is indicated: * – * and * – ** P<0.001 (chi-square), ** – **: P<0.05 (chi-square).

Figure 2. Occurrence of severe heterophil infiltration (•) and amyloid arthropathy (□) in joints in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.

Figure 3. Occurrence of severe macrophage infiltrations (•) and amyloid arthropathy (□) in joints in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.

Figure 4. Lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltration rates (•) and amyloid arthropathy occurrence rates (□) in joints in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.

Table 2. Distribution of different inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial membranes and severity in five groups (%)^a

		Heterophil infiltration (%)			Mononuclear cell infiltration
					Lymhocyte and plasma cell infiltration (%)			Macrophage infiltration (%)
Group	Number of chickens	Mild (+)	Moderate (++)	Severe (+++)	Mild (+)	Moderate (++)	Severe (+++)	Mild (+)	Moderate (++)	Severe (+++)
I, negative control group	35	0/35 (0%)	0/35 (0%)	0/35 (0%)*	0/35 (0%)	0/35 (0%)	0/35 (0%)*	0/35 (0%)	0/35 (0%)	0/35 (0%)**
II, vitamin A group	35	2/35 (6%)	6/35 (17%)	27/35 (77%)**	4/35 (11%)	9/35 (26%)	22/35 (63%)**	6/35 (17%)	11/35 (31%)	18/35 (51%)*
III, positive control group	31	1/31 (3%)	3/31 (10%)	27/31 (87%)*	0/31 (0%)	10/31 (32%)	21/31 (68%)**	0/31 (0%)	19/31 (61%)	12/31 (39%)*
IV, pentoxyfylline group	34	5/34 (15%)	5/34 (15%)	24/34 (70%)**	0/34 (0%)	19/34 (56%)	15/34 (44%)*	0/34 (0%)	20/34 (59%)	14/34 (41%)*
V, methylprednisolone group	35	7/35 (20%)	6/35 (17%)	22/35 (63%)*	1/35 (3%)	13/35 (37%)	21/35 (60%)*	5/35 (14%)	28/35 (80%)	2/35 (6%)**
^aStatistical analysis was carried out only for the severe infiltration values. The differences among the groups were calculated for each column separately, and between every two values the statistical significance of the difference is indicated: * – * and * – ** P<0.001 (chi-square), ** – ** P<0.05 (chi-square).

Figure 5. Serum amyloid A levels (•) and the incidence of amyloid arthropathy occurrence (□) in joints in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.

Figure 6. Serum amyloid A (•) and serum retinol levels (□) in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.

Figure 7. H/L ratio (•) and amyloid arthropathy occurrence rates (□) in joints in five groups. I, negative control group; II, vitamin A group; III, positive control group; IV, pentoxyflline group; V, methylprednisolone group.