Effects of Reserpine on the Fowl

¹ From the Laboratory of Avian Physiology, Department of Poultry Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

The effects of intramuscular injections of reserpine (Serpasil) on blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and general behavior were determined on adult white leghorn capons 4 hours, and up to 24 hours after injection. The dosages used ranged from 0.006 to 0.75 mg/kg. Dosages from 0.006 upwards caused a significant drop in blood pressure, but the extent of drop was not appreciable at the lower doses. Doses from 0.01 to 0.75 significantly depressed heart rate, and the effects were greater and more consistent than for blood pressure. The changes in blood pressure and heart rate with log-dose were linear, but the heart rate response exhibited a closer fit to linearity. Moreover, the results suggest that heart rate response is an efficient assay method for reserpine-containing compounds. Dosages up to 0.10 mg/kg had no effect on body temperature but above this level body temperatures were depressed significantly. The tranquilizing dose for capons is between 0.10 and 0.2 mg/kg.