Effect of Intravenously Administered Strychnine on the Wulst EEG of Conscious Adult Chickens

Abstract

The influence of strychnine on behavior and on the Wulst EGG has been studied in conscious adult hens. Marked changes in behavior were not induced by 0.1 mg./kg. strychnine, but convulsions were produced by 0.5-5 mg./kg. strychnine in the adult hen. This demonstrated that threshold spiking in the EEG was shown with 1 mg./kg. intravenous dose of strychnine, and that strychnine spikes with large amplitude (1-2 mV.) could be induced by 2-5 mg./kg. intravenous doses of strychnine in conscious restrained hens as well as curarized adults. The present experiment indicated that the complete administration of high doses of strychnine into the blood stream is important for eliciting spikes in both conscious and curarized birds, and that artificial respiration is likewise important for the demonstration of strychnine spikes in the EEG of conscious hens.

Effect of Strychnine on the Wulst EEG of Conscious Young and Adult Chickens

“…1), and most of them died within a few minutes (l'30"-3') after the administration. Intravenous doses of strychnine consistently produced a series of tonic convulsions in adult hens, as noted previously (Ookawa, 1973d). In the present experiment in which 0.3 mg./kg.…”

“…The present results indicated artificial respiration was important for the demonstration of strychnine spikes in conscious young chicks as well as adults (also see Ookawa, 1973d). The respiratory apparatus of birds consist of the lungs and air passages such as the air sacs, and the lungs are not capable of the elastic recoil characteristic of mammals (Sturkie, 1965 He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in agricultural economics.…”

Behavioral and Electroencephalographic Manifestations of Avian Epilepsy: A Review of the Literature

“…strychnine administered intravenously in all hens tested (Ookawa, 1973d; see Table 1). Convulsions consisted of (1) an initial excited state, (2) a tonic convulsion accompanied by opisthotonus, and (3) clonic and tonic convulsions.…”