科研之友
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摘要
Objective To determine the efficacy of medetomidine for immobilisation of captive juvenile crocodiles over a range of temperatures, and its reversibility with atipamezole. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals Forty male estuarine crocodiles (body weight 2.0 to 4.8kg). Methods Each crocodile was randomly assigned to one of four temperature groups: Group 1:32 degrees C; Group 2:27 degrees C; Group 3:22 degrees C; and Group 4:17 degrees C (n=10 for each group). Medetomidine (0.5mg kg1) was administered intramuscularly (IM) into the thoracic limb of all crocodiles. After 50minutes, all animals from each group received 2.5mg kg1 atipamezole IM in the opposite thoracic limb and time to recovery was documented. Heart and respiratory rates and the degree of immobilisation were monitored every 5minutes until recovery, and behaviour monitored for 7 subsequent days. Results Onset of immobilisation occurred at 15 +/- 10minutes in Group 1, and at 30 +/- 10 minutes in Groups 2 and 3. In Group 4, animals were not immobilised. Recovery following atipamezole was 10 +/- 5minutes at all temperatures. One-way analysis of variance (anova) demonstrated a significant difference in induction times between groups (p<0.01) but not in recovery times following atipamezole administration (p<0.25). Heart and respiratory rates decreased markedly following medetomidine administration and increased markedly following atipamezole reversal. Conclusions and clinical relevance Medetomidine administered in the thoracic limb of juvenile captive estuarine crocodiles provides profound sedation or immobilisation at temperatures of 22 degrees C and above. Atipamezole administered in the contralateral thoracic limb results in consistent reversal of the effects of medetomidine and a return to normal behaviour within 1520minutes regardless of temperature. Even though immobilisation is not induced at 17 degrees C, profound reversible sedation does occur reliably and repeatably.
- 出版日期2013-5
