title: Short term pharmacological immobilization in macaque monkeys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a safe and effective immobilization protocol in rhesus monkeys, which is not based on dissociative anaesthetic agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomised, experimental trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty rhesus monkeys, weighing 2.6-8.0 kg, 1-3 years of age, of both sexes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The monkeys received 50 μg kg(-1) medetomidine, 0.25 mg kg(-1) midazolam and 5 μg kg(-1) fentanyl with 150 IU hyaluronidase intramuscularly (IM). The animals were closely observed for behavioural changes and reaction to sound stimulus. Pulse rate and oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (SpO(2) ) were monitored every 5 minutes, for 20 minutes. After this period, 250 μg kg(-1) atipamezole or a placebo was administered IM and behavioural changes were closely observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Full immobilization was observed after mean 269 ± SD 116 seconds. Ten minutes after injection mean arterial oxygen saturation of haemoglobin was 94 ± 4%, but did not fall significantly further. The median pulse rate was 116 beats minute(-1) 5 minutes after the administration of the drug. This level further decreased to a median level of 108 beats minute(-1) 20 minutes after the drug's administration. The median time to recover from immobilization was significantly shorter after atipamezole administration when compared to placebo (2.7 versus 55 minutes). All animals awoke smoothly and no side effects such as vomiting or agitation were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short term and reversible pharmacological immobilization was achieved using combination of midazolam, medetomidine, and fentanyl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that 20-minute pharmacological immobilization with a combination of midazolam, medetomidine, and fentanyl is feasible in rhesus monkeys with minimal effect on heart rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, V Uvalu 84, Prague 5, Czech Republic. martin.votava@lfmotol.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Votava
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schreiberová
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Málek
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020926:Medetomidine; D008874:Midazolam; D005283:Fentanyl