Nine aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) were captured in the southern Free State, South Africa, for the placement of abdominal radio transmitters. Five combinations of ketamine hydrochloride with xylazine hydrochloride, midazolam or medetomidine hydrochloride were used to induce anaesthesia. In some cases the level of anaesthesia was maintained with 1.5% halothane. A mixture of ketamine hydrochloride...

The optimal dose of medetomidine-ketamine-buprenorphine was determined in 25 Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) undergoing surgical implantation of a temperature logger into the abdominal cavity. At the end of anaesthesia, the squirrels were given atipamezole intramuscularly to reverse the effects of medetomidine. The mean dose of medetomidine was 67.6 +/- 9.2microg/kg, ketamine 13.6 +/- 1.9...

A selective alpha-2 agonist medetomidine, a selective alpha-2 antagonist atipamezole and lidocaine were injected into the prefrontal cortex of aged rats that had been trained to perform a delayed alternation (DA) task in a T maze. Medetomidine at the dose of 0.01 microgram/microliter improved the memory task performance in four of five rats. The fifth rat improved its performance at the dose of...

Oxygenation status was evaluated in medetomidine-sedated dogs breathing room air (M) or 100 percent oxygen (MO2). Medetomidine (40 microg/kg IV) administration resulted in peripheral vasoconstriction and decreased venous saturation as measured by an increased oxygen extraction ratio in peripheral tissues. Providing 100 percent oxygen insufflation via face mask reduced desaturation by increasing...

A dose range was determined for anaesthesia of 20 recently boma-captured roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) with the synthetic opiate A3080 combined with medetomidine and ketamine. A dose of 10-30 micro/kg A3080 (x = 20+/-8 microg/kg) combined with 5-21 microg/kg medetomidine (x = 13+/-7 microg/kg) plus 0.29-1.11 mg/kg ketamine (x = 0.71+/-0.24 mg/kg) was found to be safe and effective for the...

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a unique tool to study brain activity and plasticity changes. Combination of blood-oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI and electrical forepaw stimulation has been used as a standard model to study the somatosensory pathway and brain rehabilitation in rats. The majority of fMRI studies have been performed in animals anesthetized with alpha-chloralos...

G protein-coupled octopamine receptors of insects and other invertebrates represent counterparts of adrenoceptors in vertebrate animals. The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist medetomidine, which is in clinical use as a veterinary sedative agent, was discovered to inhibit the settling process of barnacles, an important step in the ontogeny of this crustacean species. Settling of barnacles onto ship ...

General anaesthesia is associated with hypothermia, oxidative stress, and immune depression. Uncoupling Protein (UCP2) is a member of the mitochondrial carrier family present in many organs including the spleen, the lung and the brain. A role of UCP2 in the activation of the inflammatory/immune cells, in the secretion of hormones, and in the excitability of neurons by regulating the production ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of hydromorphone, hydromorphone and glycopyrrolate, medetomidine, and butorphanol premedication on the difficulty and time required to pass an endoscope into the stomach and duodenum of cats anesthetized with ketamine and isoflurane. DESIGN Randomized complete block crossover study. ANIMALS 8 purpose-bred adult female cats. PROCEDURES Each cat was premedi...

Objectives: 1) To describe electroencephalogram (EEG) appearance in the awake dog and compare these results with EEG recordings after low dose medetomidine (2 μg/kg IV) followed by atipamezole (10 μg/kg, IM); 2) To institute EEG recordings after low dose medetomidine or dexmedetomidine as a standard of practice if focal abnormalities and amplitudes were not significantly altered by pharmaceutic...