title: Relative effects of intrathecal administration of fentanyl and midazolam on A delta and C fibre reflexes.
abstract: The effects of fentanyl and midazolam, administered intrathecally, on somatosympathetic reflexes evoked by tibial nerve stimulation were investigated in 12 anaesthetized and paralysed dogs. Fentanyl depressed both the C and A delta fibre evoked reflexes in a dose ratio of approx 1:2. In contrast, midazolam had a greater effect on A delta compared with C fibre reflexes; while A delta reflexes were abolished by a total dose of 3 mg midazolam, C fibre reflexes were depressed by only 50%. The effect of fentanyl was reversed by naloxone (2 mg, i.v.) and that of midazolam by flumazenil (1 mg, i.v.). The results suggest that fentanyl and midazolam have different relative effects on A delta and C fibre pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Hammersmith Hospital, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Galletly
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Whitwam
mesh_terms: D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000294:innervation*; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D005442:Flumazenil; D008874:Midazolam; D005283:Fentanyl