The effect of xylazine on basal serum prolactin concentrations in male rats

In this study the effects of the major tranquilizer, xylazine, on serum prolactin level were studied in male rats. The results showed that, unlike all other tranquilizers, xylazine produced significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in serum prolactin levels. Xylazine at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) induced significant decrease in serum prolactin levels 1 h after its intramuscular injection which remained significantly low for 4 h. The inhibition produced by 5 mg/kg and the 10 mg/kg b.w. doses was observed to be stronger in both magnitude and duration than that produced by the lower dose (2.5 mg/kg). This inhibitory effect of xylazine on prolactin levels may be attributable to its dopaminergic and/or alpha adrenergic antagonist activity. However, this point needs further investigation.