This study aimed to investigate the concentration of pregabalin in the plasma of chicks to determine its pharmacokinetic parameters. Pregabalin (300 mg/kg) was administered orally to 42 clinically healthy Ross chicks as part of a randomized controlled study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h after drug administration from six chicks per each time. The concentrations of pregabalin in the plasma samples were determined using a quantitative HPLC assay, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the PKSolver program. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using a noncom-partmental model. The concentrations of pregabalin were 133.80 ± 2.35, 183.20 ± 3.91, 295.60 ± 2.82, 248.40 ± 7.60, 219.00 ± 2.72 and 154.00 ± 5.50 μg/ml at the times 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h respectively. The pharmacokinetics parameters were t_1/2β 29 h, T_max 2 h, C_max 295 µg, K_el 0.023 h^-1, MRT 43h, V_d 1.127 L/h/kg, Cl 0.026 L/h/kg and AUC_0-∞ 11420.31 µg.h/ml. This study concluded that pregabalin has a long elimination half-life and poor clearance from the animal body, which is reflected in the prolonged impact of its action.

Keywords: Pregabalin; Pharmacokinetic; HPLC; Chicks