title: Behavioral and physiological studies of seizures induced by systemic injection of metrazol in chickens.
abstract: The influence of systemically administered Metrazol on behavior, electroencephalogram and body temperature has been studied in young and adult chickens. Distinct convulsions were induced by 30--50 mg./kg. Metrazol administered intravenously in adults: they consisted of an initial excited state, a tonic convulsion accompanied with opisthotonos, and finally, convulsive movements. During recovery from these convulsions, three distinct behaviors were observed: violent peck-like movement, watchful state and finally panting behavior. All of the birds receiving higher intravenous doses (60--100 mg./kg.) exhibited vigorous convulsions immediately after injection and death occurred in 100% of the birds receiving these doses. An intraperitoneal injection of 75--100 mg./kg. Metrazol produced typical convulsions in young and adult chickens. At these doses, convulsions consisted of an initial excited state, a tonic convulsion accompanied with opisthotonos, and convulsive movements which involved clonic and tonic phases. The threshold for evoking typical convulsions with intraperitoneal injection ranges between 50 and 60 mg./kg. Metrazol in young chickens. The intravenous threshold doses for evoking high amplitude (1--2 mV.) in the EEG of adult chickens was 60 mg./kg. Metrazol. High intraperitoneal doses of Metrazol(75-100 mg./kg.) produced typical spikes with large amplitude which were synchronous in the two hemispheres in both young and adult chickens. There was a marked increase in body temperature within 10 minutes after injection in all cases of 50 mg./kg. intravenous dose: maximum increase (at 40 min.) was 1.5 degrees C. as compared with controls, however, it decreased rapidly with panting behavior. The highest does (100 mg./kg.) produced a maximum increase in body temperature of 3 degrees C. Discussion of epileptic seizure susceptibility to Metrazol in aves, in the light of phylogenesis, is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001831:Body Temperature; D002645:Chickens; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D010433:Pentylenetetrazole