The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of achieving more effective and prolonged sedation in pigs by the oral administration of increased doses of azaperone and to evaluate its safety. This was performed through a prospective randomised and double blinded study. A total of 32 weaned piglets were divided into 4 groups (8 in each group). Group A was given 1 ml of saline orally and served as the control group. Group B received azaperone orally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. Group C received azaperone orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg b.w. Group D was given azaperone orally at a dose of 12 mg/kg b.w. The response to the defined stimulus, movement level, degree of salivation, body temperature, respiratory frequency, blood plasma azaperone concentration and biochemical variables were included in the trial. We found that by increasing the dose of the orally administered azaperone, the onset of the sedation is faster, the end of the sedation starts later and the sedation time is longer. However, the use of higher doses of oral azaperone is not suitable for piglets because the doses negatively affect the respiratory rate, body temperature, some biochemical parameters and cause the immobility of the piglets.

Polycyclic musk compounds are commonly used in personal care products to replace expensive natural fragrances. Due to their huge consumption, they have become a part of the aquatic environment. In the present study, a two-month exposure effect of tonalide on juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) was investigated. We determined the vitellogenin concentration to define the potential endocrine-disrupting effect of tonalide and also analysed selected indices to evaluate the induction of oxidative stress. The environmentally relevant concentration of tonalide (i.e., 500 ng/l) caused a significant decrease in the catalase activity (P < 0.05) and a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the lipid peroxidation. An increasing lipid peroxidation was also recorded for the highest concentration group tested (i.e., 50 000 ng/l). On the other hand, no significant changes were recorded in vitellogenin in all the exposed groups. Thus, based on these results, we have not demonstrated the endocrine-disrupting activity of tonalide in zebrafish. The results of the oxidative stress indices showed a significant impairment of the antioxidant defence after the two-month tonalide exposure, which could indicate part of the adaptive response to the tonalide toxicity.