title: Effects of epidural opioid analgesics on heart rate, arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, body temperature, and behavior in horses.
abstract: Heart rate, arterial blood pressures, respiratory rate, body temperature, and central nervous system excitement were compared before and after epidural administration of morphine (0.1 mg/kg), butorphanol (0.08 mg/kg), alfentanil (0.02 mg/kg), tramadol (1.0 mg/kg), the k-opioid agonist U50488H (0.08 mg/kg), or sterile water using an incomplete Latin square crossover design in five conscious adult horses. Treatments were administered into the first intercoccygeal epidural space. Significant (P <.05) reductions in respiratory rate were detected after epidural administration of morphine, alfentanil, U50488H, and sterile water. Additionally, significant (P <.05) head ptosis was observed within the first hour after administration of morphine, U50488H, and tramadol, but neither of these changes appeared to be of clinical significance. No treatment-related changes in motor activity or behavior were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Claudio C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Natalini
authors.forename: Elaine P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015760:Alfentanil; D014147:Tramadol; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D009020:Morphine; D002077:Butorphanol