Contrasting effects of nitrofurans on plasma corticosterone in chickens following administration as a bolus or diet additive.
Administration of furazolidone as a bolus dose (8-500 mg/kg), produced a decrease in plasma corticosterone in chickens. In contrast, addition of furazolidone or furaltadone to the diet (0.04% or above, 10 days), increased plasma corticosterone. Pre-treatment with a 200-mg/kg bolus of furazolidone or furaltadone did not affect pentobarbitone anaesthesia time in the birds. In chickens pre-treated with a nitrofuran in the diet, however, pentobarbitone anaesthesia time was significantly less than that in controls. Furaltadone in the diet, produced significant increases in the amount of cytochrome P-450 and the activity of aniline hydroxylase in the liver microsomes. It is suggested that nitrofurans given in the diet stimulated corticosterone biosynthesis in the adrenal glands and induced mixed-function oxidase activity in the liver. Nitrofurans given as a bolus did not produce these effects. Furazolidone (200 mg/kg) produced severe anorexia, which lasted 2 days in T-line birds. The anorexia seemed to be associated with tissue damage in the birds rather than the ensuing adrenal cortical insufficiency.
Bartlet
A L
AL
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Harvey
S
S
Klandorf
H
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000815:Aniline Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009581:Nitrofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D010424:Pentobarbital; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D009581:Nitrofurans; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D005664:Furazolidone; C007795:furaltadon; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D000815:Aniline Hydroxylase; D010424:Pentobarbital; D003345:Corticosterone