INHIBITION OF MONOAMINE OXIDASE BY FURAZOLIDONE IN THE CHICKEN AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE ALIMENTARY FLORA THEREON

The addition of furazolidone to the feed at the therapeutic level (0.04% w/w, 10 days) inhibited monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity by 47 to 72% in chicken duodenal mucosa, heart and brain, but in the liver the enzyme activity was unaffected by the treatment. Furazolidone (200 mg/kg) administered by crop tube inhibited MAO activities in duodenal mucosa, liver, heart and brain. Furazolidone (200 mg/kg) injected intramuscularly did not inhibit MAO activity in the chicken. Pretreatment of the chickens with intramuscular neomycin did not antagonize the inhibition of MAO activity produced by furazolidone (200 mg/kg, crop tube). Pretreatment with neomycin by crop tube to suppress the alimentary flora significantly reduced the effect of furazolidone on MAO activity, suggesting that the drug was transformed by the alimentary flora to an active metabolite which subsequently inhibited MAO activity in other organs. Furazolidone in the feed (0.04% w/w, 10 days) or administered by crop tube (200 mg/kg) had no effect on the activity of aminopyrine demethylase in chicken liver. The activity of aspartate transaminase in plasma was unaffected by the addition of furazolidone to the feed (0.04% w/w, 10 days). 1980 British Pharmacological Society