title: Effects of Single-Dose Prucalopride on Intestinal Hypomotility in Horses: Preliminary Observations.
abstract: Abnormalities of gastrointestinal motility are often a challenge in horses; however, the use of prokinetic drugs in such conditions must be firmly established yet. For this reason we carried out a preliminary study on the effects of prucalopride on intestinal motor activity of horses with gut hypomotility. The effect of prucalopride per os by oral dose syringe (2 mg/100 kg body weight) was assessed by abdominal ultrasound (evaluating duodenal, cecal, and colonic motor activity) in six horses with gut hypomotility. After administration of prucalopride, a significant increase of contractile activity was found in the duodenum at 30 minutes (p = 0.0005), 60 minutes (p = 0.01) and 90 minutes (p = 0.01), whereas in the cecum and in the left colon the increase was only present at 60 minutes (p = 0.03, and p = 0.02, respectively). No changes from baseline heart and respiratory rate or behavior side effects were observed after administration of the drug and throughout the observation period. Prucalopride may be a useful adjunct to the therapeutic armamentary for treating hypomotile upper gut conditions of horses. Dosing information is however needed to establish its actual clinical efficacy and its proper effects on the large bowel in these animals.
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 63/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laus
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 63/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fratini
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 63/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paggi
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 63/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Faillace
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 63/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spaterna
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 63/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Beniamino
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tesei
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Perugia University School of Medicine, Piazzale Lucio Severi, 1, 06159 San Sisto (Perugia), Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fettucciari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Perugia University School of Medicine, Piazzale Lucio Severi, 1, 06159 San Sisto (Perugia), Italy.
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004386:Duodenum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D056152:Respiratory Rate
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; C406662:prucalopride