Effect of detomidine on visceral and somatic nociception and duodenal motility in conscious adult horses.
Abstract: To evaluate the effects of detomidine on visceral and somatic nociception, heart and respiratory rates, sedation, and duodenal motility and to correlate these effects with serum detomidine concentrations. Methods: Nonrandomized, experimental trial. Methods: Five adult horses, each with a permanent gastric cannula weighing 534 +/- 46 kg. Methods: Visceral nociception was evaluated by colorectal (CRD) and duodenal distension (DD). The duodenal balloon was used to assess motility. Somatic nociception was assessed via thermal threshold (TT). Nose-to-ground (NTG) height was used as a measure of sedation. Serum was collected for pharmacokinetic analysis. Detomidine (10 or 20 microg kg(-1)) was administered intravenously. Data were analyzed by means of a three-factor anova with fixed factors of treatment and time and random factor of horse. When a significant time x treatment interaction was detected, differences were compared with a simple t-test or Bonferroni t-test. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Detomidine produced a significant, dose-dependent decrease in NTG height, heart rate, and skin temperature and a significant, nondose-dependent decrease in respiratory rate. Colorectal distension threshold was significantly increased with 10 microg kg(-1) for 15 minutes and for at least 165 minutes with 20 microg kg(-1). Duodenal distension threshold was significantly increased at 15 minutes for the 20 microg kg(-1) dose. A significant change in TT was not observed at either dose. A marked, immediate decrease in amplitude of duodenal contractions followed detomidine administration at both doses for 50 minutes. Conclusions: Detomidine caused a longer period of visceral anti-nociception as determined by CRD but a shorter period of anti-nociception as determined by DD than has been previously reported. The lack of somatic anti-nociception as determined by TT testing may be related to the marked decrease in skin temperature, likely caused by peripheral vasoconstriction and the low temperature cut-off of the testing device.
Publication Date: 2009-02-26 PubMed ID: 19239655DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2008.00441.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study investigates the effects of detomidine, a sedative and analgesic, on visceral and somatic pain sensations, heart and respiratory rates, sedation levels, and duodenal motion in adult horses. The findings reveal that detomidine significantly reduces heart rate, skin temperature, and respiratory rates, and increases the threshold for distension-related pain in the colorectum and duodenum.
Objective of the Study
The primary goal of the research is to understand the influence of detomidine on visceral and somatic pain sensations, heart and respiration rates, sedation, and duodenal motility in adult horses. It also seeks to establish a correlation between the effects observed and serum concentrations of detomidine.
Methodology
- The study was a non-random experimental trial involving five adult horses.
- Each of these horses was equipped with a permanent gastric cannula and weighed around 534 +/- 46 kg.
- Pain perception was assessed via colorectal (CRD) and duodenal distension (DD), and somatic pain was determined by thermal threshold (TT).
- Sedation was measured by the distance between the horse’s nose and the ground (NTG).
- Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed on the collected serum, and detomidine was administered intravenously at either 10 or 20 micrograms per kilogram.
- The data collected was analyzed using a three-factor anova, and statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05.
Findings of the Study
- Detomidine led to a dose-dependent reduction in NTG height, heart rate, and skin temperature. This indicates increased sedation and decreased physiological activity.
- Colorectal distension threshold increased significantly for 15 minutes at 10 micrograms per kilogram detomidine dose and for at least 165 minutes at 20 micrograms per kilogram detomidine dose. This shows that detomidine reduces gastrointestinal pain sensation in a dose-dependent manner.
- Duodenal distension threshold increased significantly at 15 minutes for high detomidine dose, indicating the drug’s positive impact on reducing duodenal pain.
- Lack of effect on TT suggests detomidine doesn’t affect somatic pain sensation. This may be due to vasoconstriction activity and low thermal cut-off of the testing device.
- Detomidine administration caused a marked decrease in duodenal contractions, indicating a possible slowing down of gut motility.
Conclusion
Detomidine was observed to have a significant effect on visceral anti-nociception duration, heart and respiratory rates, and duodenal motility, but less impact on somatic anti-nociception. The discrepancies in different types of pain perception may be linked to the physiological effects of the drug, such as peripheral vasoconstriction and decreased skin temperature.
Cite This Article
APA
Elfenbein JR, Sanchez LC, Robertson SA, Cole CA, Sams R.
(2009).
Effect of detomidine on visceral and somatic nociception and duodenal motility in conscious adult horses.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 36(2), 162-172.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2995.2008.00441.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Area Under Curve
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Duodenum / drug effects
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Motility / drug effects
- Half-Life
- Horses / physiology
- Hot Temperature
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
- Imidazoles / pharmacokinetics
- Imidazoles / pharmacology
- Male
- Pain / drug therapy
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Verhaar N, Hoppe S, Grages AM, Hansen K, Neudeck S, Kästner S, Mazzuoli-Weber G. Dexmedetomidine Has Differential Effects on the Contractility of Equine Jejunal Smooth Muscle Layers In Vitro.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 10;13(6).
- Ziegler AL, Blikslager AT. Sparing the gut: COX-2 inhibitors herald a new era for treatment of horses with surgical colic.. Equine Vet Educ 2020 Nov;32(11):611-616.
- Adair HS, Levine D. Effects of 1-MHz Ultrasound on Epaxial Muscle Temperature in Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:177.
- Müller TM, Hopster K, Bienert-Zeit A, Rohn K, Kästner SBR. Effect of butorphanol, midazolam or ketamine on romifidine based sedation in horses during standing cheek tooth removal.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Dec 6;13(1):381.
- Elfenbein JR, Robertson SA, MacKay RJ, KuKanich B, Sanchez L. Systemic and anti-nociceptive effects of prolonged lidocaine, ketamine, and butorphanol infusions alone and in combination in healthy horses.. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S6.
- Poller C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB. Evaluation of contact heat thermal threshold testing for standardized assessment of cutaneous nociception in horses - comparison of different locations and environmental conditions.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jan 8;9:4.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
