Reversible medetomidine/ketamine anesthesia in captive capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).
BACKGROUND
Medetomidine, an alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist administered with ketamine, induces sedation/anesthesia in non-human primates in a dose-dependent, species-specific manner.


METHODS
Two adult male capuchin monkeys enrolled in a study of kinematics of mastication were administered intramuscular (IM) injections of 150, 200 and 400 microg/kg medetomidine or medetomidine (microg/kg)/ketamine (mg/kg) at 200/2, 150/4. Medetomidine was reversed with atipamezole. Animals were then fed for 9-75 minutes. A second anesthesia reversal episode allowed return to home cage.


RESULTS
Medetomidine (150 microg/kg)/ketamine (4 mg/kg) provided anesthesia for handling and restraint within 10 minutes of administration. Atipamezole (750 microg/kg) IM provided reversal sufficient for the animal to eat by 22 minutes or perch by 31 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Medetomidine/ketamine administered IM in Cebus apella results in rapid, reproducible and safe anesthesia which is reversible with atipamezole. Nausea, vomiting or regurgitation were not observed during anesthesia reversal episodes in either the fasted or fed state.
Theriault
Betty R
BR
Animal Resources Center, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. btheriault@bsd.uchicago.edu
Reed
David A
DA
Niekrasz
Marek A
MA
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002428:Cebus; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000662:veterinary
D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine