The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) on the ultracellular morphology alteration, apoptosis induction and reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediates production of peritoneal macrophages (DPM) from mule ducks. The ducklings were purchased from a commercial hatchery, and were fed a corn-soybean based diet. As the ducklings were grown up to 3 wk of age, the Sephadex-elicited peritoneal exudative cells (PEC) were used as the source for duck peritoneal

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... rophages. The ultracellular morphology study showed that significant number of cells shifted from category I (normal cell with ruffled membrane) and II (cell membrane blebbing) to category III (cell membrane blebbing and even rupture) after DPM were incubated with AFB 1 (20 µg/ml) for 12 to 48 h. When DPM were exposed to AFB 1 in vitro, the production of NO, H 2 O 2 and O 2 in macrophages was reduced after 12-48 h incubation with previous LPS stimulation. There was a DNA laddering pattern observed in DPM incubated with AFB 1 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 µg/ml for 12 h. Evidence also revealed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was increased along with the elevation of AFB 1 concentration. The results suggest that AFB 1 exposure causes duck macrophages going on apoptotic pathway through evidence of ultracellular morphology alteration and DNA laddering in agarose electrophoresis. The production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediates of duck macrophages also depressed after AFB 1 exposure, and this implied that AFB 1 could cause deteriorated functions of bacteriocidal and tumoricidal activity in duck macrophages. (Asian-Aust.