The effect of sulfur compounds on the content of microelements in tissue organism rabbits
Authors: Dychok-Nedzelska A. Z. , Lesyk Ya. V. , Kovalchuk I. I. 
Published: November 2019

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of nanotechnology and sodium sulfate on the content of mineral elements in the tissues of 110-day-old rabbits by feeding different amounts of nano sulfur citrate. Studies were conducted on young rabbits of the Hyla breed in the private sector. Rabbits for the study were selected at the age of 41 days on the principle of analogues, weighing 1.2–1.4 kg, were divided into six groups (control and five experimental), 6 animals (3 males and 3 females) in each. Animals were kept in rooms with adjustable microclimate and illumination in mesh cages measuring 50×120×30 cm, in accordance with modern animal health standards. The rabbits of the control group were fed without restriction a balanced granular compound feed, with free access to water. Animals of the first (I), second (II), third (III), and fourth (IV) experimental groups were fed a control group diet and fed with nano sulfur citrate for 2; 4; 8 and 12 mg S/kg body weight. A solution of nano sulfur citrate (1.0 g/dm3, pH 1.38) was obtained from the Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies LLC, Kyiv. The young of the fifth (V) experimental group was fed with a  diet of the control group and water was given sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) in the amount of 40 mg S/kg body weight. At the 58th day from the beginning of the experiment, the animals were slaughtered, taking into account the generally accepted bioethical norms of international regulations regarding the experimental work with vertebrate animals. Blood, tissues: liver, skin and wool were selected for the study. For determination of macro and microelements, the samples were pre-mineralized by dry aching method. After ashes, acid extraction was performed. In the prepared samples, the elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using AAS-115 C. The digital data were statistically processed using the Student's t test. Studies have found that the feeding of rabbit sulfur citrate in the smallest amount tested 2 mg/kg caused a significant increase in liver – Fe (P < 0.05) and skin – Zn (P < 0.05), whereas a larger dose of 4 mg/kg was affected by changes in blood Cr and Fe (P < 0.01), liver – Zn and Fe (P < 0.05), skin – Zn (P < 0.01), wool – Zn and Fe (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. It was noted that the use in the diet of rabbits supplements of sulfur citrate at the rate of 8 mg/kg was marked by the greatest changes in the investigated tissues of the rabbit body, in particular the higher blood levels of Cr (P<0,001), Fe (P<0,05) and Cu (P < 0.01), liver – Zn, Fe and Cu (P < 0.05), skin – Zn (P < 0.001), higher amounts of 12 mg/kg caused changes in liver content – Zn (P < 0.01) and Fe (P < 0.05), skin – Zn (P < 0.05) compared to the control, indicating the stimulating effect of the organic sulfur compound on the activation of the processes of assimilation of these elements in their body. The use of sodium sulfate in the amount of 40 mg S/kg body weight was less likely to affect the content of the studied mineral elements compared with the control group with a more pronounced effect: Zn in the liver and skin, Cr in wool. Therefore, feeding in the diet of rabbits II and III experimental groups of nano sulfur citrate in the amount of 4 and 8 S/kg body weight was more pronounced synergistic effect on the trace elements in the tissues of their body than the use of inorganic compounds and the control group.