title: P-chlorophenylalanine attenuates tonic immobility duration in chickens.
abstract: The results of two experiments demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in tonic immobility (TI) duration by p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) in White Leghorn cockerels. In Experiment 1, five-day old chicks were given five intraperitoneal injections of either saline or 75 or 150 mg/kg of PCPA at a rate of one injection a day for five days. The effects of these injections were evaluated one day after the last injection. A total of 750 mg/kg of PCPA significantly reduced TI duration but 375 mg/kg did not. In Experiment 2, chicks were given either two saline injections, two 375 mg/kg PCPA injections, or one 375 mg/kg PCPA injection and one saline injection. The effects of these injections were evaluated either one or three days after injections. A total of 750 mg/kg of PCPA significantly reduced TI both one and three days after injections but 375 mg/kg of PCPA did not. Previous failures to obtain significant PCPA effects on TI may reflect insufficient drug amounts.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D010134:Fenclonine