a b s t r a c t
Propofol is an ultra-short acting anesthetic agent. The information on the pharmacological
and toxicological effects of propofol in the chicken is rather limited. This study examines the
toxicity and pharmaco-behavioral effects of propofol given intraperitoneally in 7–10 dayold
chicks. The median effective doses of propofol for the induction of sedation, analgesia
to electric stimulation and sleep in the chicks were 1.82, 2.21 and 5.71 mg/kg, respectively.
The 24-h median lethal dose of propofol in chicks was 57.22 mg/kg. The therapeutic indices
of propofol for sedation, analgesia and sleep were 31.4, 25.9 and 10, respectively. Propofol
at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg reduced the locomotor activity and increased the duration of tonic
immobility in chicks. Propofol at 2 and 4 mg/kg caused analgesia to electric stimulation as
well as analgesia and anti-inflammatory responses against formalin test in chicks. Propofol
at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg induced sleep in chicks for 8.4 to 25 min. Physostigmine shortened the
sleep duration of propofol. Data suggestthat propofol induces anti-inflammatory action and
central nervous system depression in chicks resulting in sedation, analgesia and anesthesia
with wide safety margin. These effects could form the basis of further pharmacological and
toxicological studies on propofol in the young chick model, and the drug could be safely
applied clinically in the chicken.
© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. This is an open access article under