Toxicological safety control and dosage parameters of the pharmacological agent SPAO for chickens

Abstract

To reduce economic losses caused by technological factors affecting chickens, a pharmacological complex SPAO (a stress protector antioxidant) was developed. SPAO is a pharmacological composition containing lithium citrate, vitamins, and other substances that affect the metabolism of chickens. The toxicological studies proved that the SPAO belongs to the group of low-toxic substances that do not have locally irritating properties. With a single oral administration at a dose of 6773.33 mg per 1 kg of body weight, there were no toxic effects. It is a low-hazard substance (relatively harmless). As a result of assessment of the dose-effect relationship, when the level of corticosterone in the blood of chickens was used as a marker sign of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, the lowest dose providing a pronounced anti-stress pharmacological effect is 185 mg/kg according to the scheme (two days and a day before exposure to stress factors). Long-term administration of the SPAO-complex at a dose of 185–1850 mg per 1 kg of body weight does not cause the death of experimental animals. In therapeutic doses, the SPAO-complex does not adversely affect the general condition of experimental animals, digestion and urination, the central nervous system and the morphology of internal organs. At doses exceeding therapeutic ones by 5–10 times, within 40 days of use, it increases the heart weight, causes dystrophic phenomena in liver and increases the volume of spleen, without a significant effect on the weight of this organ.