Assessment of the Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory and Antipyretic Activity of Amitriptyline in Chicks

Background: Amitriptyline is effective for pain relief in a variety of pain states, as evidence suggests that it influences various analgesic pathways. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the analgesic dose, the analgesic effect over time, and the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of amitriptyline in chicks.Methods: Sixty-six broiler chicks were used in several successive experiments. Five and seven chicks were used to determine the median lethal dose (LD۵۰) and median effective analgesic dose (ED۵۰), respectively, using the Dixon method. Pain was induced and assessed using an electrical stimulator. Three sets of experiments were conducted to assess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects, using three groups of six chicks each (control, amitriptyline ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg BW, administered orally). A formalin test was used to induce acute inflammatory pain, and a baker’s yeast test was used to induce fever. Results: The LD۵۰ and ED۵۰ of oral amitriptyline were ۳۱۵ mg/kg and ۲۳ mg/kg, respectively. Amitriptyline showed short-term analgesic effects lasting only two hours. Amitriptyline at ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg showed dose-dependent, significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the number of foot lifts and the foot thickness treated with formalin, respectively, compared to the control group. Amitriptyline exhibited a significant antipyretic effect, as the doses of ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg were able to prevent the temperature rise for six and nine consecutive hours, respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that amitriptyline had a short-term analgesic effect with an acute anti-inflammatory effect, with a remarkable effect on reducing the induced fever.

کلیدواژه ها:

Amitriptyline ، Analgesic ، Anti-Inflammatory ، Antipyretic ، Chicks