Abstract
Objective
To investigate the effects of atipamezole administered before butorphanol, on tail-flick
latency (TFL) and also following medetomidine–ketamine anaesthesia in rats.
Study design
Prospective, randomized experimental study.
Animals
Thirty-four adult male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 260–390 g.
Methods
TFL in 50 °C water was used to measure antinociception. In the first experiment, rats
received saline (n = 5) or atipamezole (n = 5) followed by butorphanol treatments. In the second experiment, three groups of
rats received saline (n = 8), atipamezole (n = 8) or atimpamezole (n = 8) followed by butorphanol 60 minutes after medetomidine–ketamine administration.
Results
In the first experiment, butorphanol significantly increased TFL compared to baseline.
Atipamezole significantly decreased this effect. In the second experiment, TFL was
significantly increased after recovery from medetomidine–ketamine anaesthesia compared
to baseline. This was almost completely blocked by atipamezole. Atipamezole with butorphanol
after recovery from the anaesthesia significantly reduced TFL compared to saline but
still significantly increased TFL compared to the baseline.
Conclusion and clinical relevance
Atipamezole attenuated the analgesic effects of butorphanol. When postoperative atipamezole
is used to hasten recovery from anaesthesia in rats, it may interfere with the postoperative
analgesic effect of butorphanol.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 20,
2009
Received:
October 5,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
