title: Zacopride and 8-OH-DPAT reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression and hypoxia but not catatonic immobilization in goats.
abstract: Neurophysiological studies have shown that serotonergic ligands that bind to 5-HT1A, 5-HT7, and 5-HT4 serotonin receptors in brain stem have beneficial effects on respiratory neurons during opioid-induced respiratory depression. The effect of these ligands on respiratory function and pulmonary performance has not been studied. We therefore examined the effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), an agonist of 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors, and zacopride, an agonist of 5-HT4 receptors, to establish whether these ligands would reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression and hypoxia without affecting the immobilizing properties of the opioid drug etorphine. When etorphine was used to sedate and immobilize goats, it significantly decreased respiratory rate (P = 0.013), percent hemoglobin oxygen saturation (P < 0.0001), and arterial oxygen partial pressure [Pa(O2); F(10,70) = 5.67, P < 0.05] and increased arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure [F(10,70) = 3.87, P < 0.05] and alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure gradient [A-a gradients; F(10,70) = 8.23, P < 0.0001]. Zacopride and 8-OH-DPAT, coadministered with etorphine, both attenuated the effects of etorphine; respiration rates did not decrease, and percent hemoglobin oxygen saturation and Pa(O2) remained elevated. Zacopride decreased the hypercapnia, indicating an improvement in ventilation, whereas 8-OH-DPAT did not affect the hypercapnia and, therefore, did not improve ventilation. The main beneficial effect of 8-OH-DPAT was on the pulmonary circulation; it improved oxygen diffusion, indicated by the normal A-a gradients, presumably by improving ventilation perfusion ratios. Neither zacopride nor 8-OH-DPAT reversed etorphine-induced catatonic immobilization. We conclude that serotonergic drugs that act on 5-HT1A, 5-HT7, and 5-HT4 receptors reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression and hypoxia without reversing catatonic immobilization.
authors.affiliation: Brain Function Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. meyerlcr@physiology.wits.ac.za
authors.forename: Leith C R
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002389:Catatonia; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000378:metabolism*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007103:Immobilization; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010313:Partial Pressure; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D006454:Hemoglobins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; C055971:zacopride; D010100:Oxygen