The applied pharmacology of azaperone in ponies.
Abstract: The butyrophenone tranquilliser, azaperone, was administered intramuscularly to ponies in five series of experiments, using a dose level of 0-4 mg/kg once and 0-8 mg/kg four times. An excellent or good sedative effect was usually obtained with both dose levels, but the response was more consistent with the higher dose. The onset of sedation was apparent within 10 min of administration, the maximal effect usually occurring between 20 and 60 min while sedation was no longer apparent after 2 to 6 h. Body temperature was reduced in all animals for at least 2 h and respiratory rate was increased in some ponies but not in others. A mild tachycardia occurred in the first hour after administering azaperone (0-8 mg/kg) and arterial blood pressure was reduced for at least 4 h. The hypothesis that azaperone reduced blood pressure by blocking alpha-adrenoceptors, thereby decreasing vasomotor tone, was tested by measuring the ability of azaperone (0-8 mg/kg) to antagonise the action of standard intravenous doses of adrenaline (1-5 mug/kg) on blood pressure, Azaperone partially antagonised the pressor action of adrenaline and in comparative studies the phenothiazine tranquilliser, acepromazine (0-1 mg/kg), also exerted a similar blocking effect.
Publication Date: 1976-05-01 PubMed ID: 935668
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigated the effectiveness of a specific dose of tranquilliser, azaperone, on ponies. The study explored the drug’s effects on sedation, body temperature, and respiratory rate, and tested a hypothesis related to the drug’s ability to decrease vasomotor tone by blocking alpha-adrenoceptors and its effect on blood pressure.
Experimental Design
- The study was carried out on ponies, using azaperone, a type of tranquilliser from the group of butyrophenones.
- The medication was administered intramuscularly.
- The doses used were 0.4 mg/kg once and 0.8 mg/kg four times.
- These dosage were tested in five series of differently structured experiments.
Findings related to sedation effect, body temperature, and respiratory rate
- The sedation effects were evaluated and divided into two categories: excellent or good.
- The higher dose (0.8 mg/kg) was found to be more consistent in providing sedation, and the effect usually began 10 minutes after administration
- Maximum sedative effect was typically noted around 20-60 minutes post administration and wore off after roughly 2 to 6 hours.
- The drug also impacted body temperature by reducing it in all treated animals for at least two hours post-administration.
- Some animals also had an increased respiratory rate, although this was not observed universally across all subjects.
Impact on Cardiovascular Parameters, and Testing of Hypothesis
- Mild tachycardia (an increased heart rate) was observed in the first hour after administering the higher dose of azaperone.
- Arterial blood pressure was also seen to be reduced for at least 4 hours.
- The authors sought to understand if azaperone had an impact on vasomotor tone by blocking alpha-adrenoceptors, thereby reducing blood pressure.
- This was tested by measuring the impact of azaperone on the effect of standard doses of adrenaline on blood pressure.
- The study found that azaperone partially countered the blood pressure-increasing action of adrenaline.
- Comparative studies with another tranquilliser, acepromazine, showed a similar blocking effect.
Cite This Article
APA
Serrano L, Lees P.
(1976).
The applied pharmacology of azaperone in ponies.
Res Vet Sci, 20(3), 316-323.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Acepromazine / pharmacology
- Animals
- Azaperone / pharmacology
- Blood Pressure / drug effects
- Body Temperature / drug effects
- Butyrophenones / pharmacology
- Epinephrine / antagonists & inhibitors
- Female
- Heart Rate / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Rectum / physiology
- Respiration / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Peyclit L, Baron SA, Hadjadj L, Rolain JM. In Vitro Screening of a 1280 FDA-Approved Drugs Library against Multidrug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022 Feb 22;11(3).
- Malinowski CM, Cameron AI, Burnside WM, West SE, Nunamaker EA. Butorphanol-Azaperone-Medetomidine for the Immobilization of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2019 May 1;58(3):346-355.
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