title: Effects of xylazine on cecal mechanical activity and cecal blood flow in healthy horses.
abstract: Mechanical activity of the cecal body, lateral cecal arterial blood flow, carotid arterial pressure, and heart rate were measured in 6 conscious healthy horses 30 minutes before and for 120 minutes after IV administration of xylazine at dosages of 1.1 mg/kg of body weight, 0.55 mg/kg, and 0.275 mg/kg. Xylazine at a dosage of 1.1 mg/kg reduced the mean motility index (the product of the mean amplitude of contractions and the total duration of contractile activity divided by the recording time) of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers for the first, second, third, and fourth 30-minute periods after administration of xylazine. Xylazine at a dosage of 0.55 mg/kg reduced the motility index of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers for the first and second 30-minute periods after administration of xylazine. Xylazine at a dosage of 0.275 mg/kg reduced the motility index of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers for the first 30-minute period after administration of xylazine. Mean lateral cecal arterial blood flow was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than the base-line value at 2 and 4 minutes after administration of all 3 xylazine dosages and at 8 minutes after administration of xylazine dosages of 1.1 mg/kg and 0.55 mg/kg. All dosages of xylazine caused transient hypertension and bradycardia, followed by hypotension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Becht
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D002432:Cecum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013843:Thiazines; D014991:Xylazine