An analgesic evaluation of isoxsuprine in horses.
Abstract: Isoxsuprine is used clinically to treat navicular disease and laminitis in horses. Although it is thought to increase digital and laminar blood flow, isoxsuprine's mechanism of action remains controversial, and analgesia has been suggested recently as such possible mechanism. This research investigated the analgesic potential of isoxsuprine in healthy horses submitted to a mechanical nociceptive test. Isoxsuprine (1.2 mg/kg), xylazine (1.1 mg/kg), distilled water : ethanol 95% (2 : 1, v/v, 20 ml) and saline (0.9%, 20 ml) were injected intravenously, and nociceptive thresholds were measured over 90 min. Only xylazine significantly increased nociceptive thresholds, confirming that alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists produce analgesia in horses. Our results do not support an analgesic mechanism of action for isoxsuprine in horses, suggesting that other mechanisms might account for the clinical efficacy of this drug or that mechanical nociceptive testing may not be sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate an analgesic effect for this drug.
Publication Date: 2004-11-10 PubMed ID: 15533122DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00659.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper is about a study that examined the pain-relieving potential of the drug isoxsuprine in horses. The results suggest that the drug is not effective in relieving pain, suggesting other mechanisms may be responsible for its effectiveness, or that the test used was not sensitive enough to detect any potential pain-relieving properties.
Background of the Research
- The study was carried out because isoxsuprine, commonly used to treat certain conditions in horses, is believed to increase blood flow in particular areas of the body, but its exact mechanism of action is disputed.
- Some recent speculations have suggested that the drug might work by providing pain relief or analgesia. The researchers conducted this study to investigate this possible analgesic effect of isoxsuprine in horses.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted in healthy horses put through a mechanical pain or “nociceptive” test. This test is used to measure a subject’s reaction to potentially painful stimuli.
- Isoxsuprine and other substances, like xylazine, a compound known to produce pain relief in animals, a distilled water and ethanol mixture, and saline, were injected intravenously into the horses.
- The reactions of the horses i.e., their pain thresholds, were then measured over a period of 90 minutes.
Research Findings
- The results of the study showed that there was a significant increase in nociceptive thresholds only in horses that were administered xylazine, indicating its role as a reliable analgesic.
- In contrast, isoxsuprine administration did not result in a significant increase in nociceptive thresholds, suggesting that it may not be effective as a pain reliever in horses.
- However, the researchers also indicated that the lack of observed analgesic effect could be due to other potential mechanisms of action for isoxsuprine or due to the sensitivity of the mechanical pain test applied may not have been suitable enough to detect the drug’s analgesic effects.
Cite This Article
APA
Lizarraga I, Castillo F, Valderrama ME.
(2004).
An analgesic evaluation of isoxsuprine in horses.
J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 51(7-8), 370-374.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00659.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Av. Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic beta-Agonists / pharmacology
- Analgesia / veterinary
- Animals
- Horses / physiology
- Injections, Intravenous / veterinary
- Isoxsuprine / pharmacology
- Male
- Random Allocation
- Regional Blood Flow
- Vasodilation / drug effects
- Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Flores JEM, Terrazas A, Lara Sagahon AV, Aleman M. Parasympathetic tone activity, heart rate, and grimace scale in conscious horses of 3 breeds before, during, and after nociceptive mechanical stimulation. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2739-2747.
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