Efeitos sedativos da detomidina nos acupontos vg-1 e yin tang em equinos

Abstract

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, such as detomidine, are widely used in equine practice due to their sedative, analgesic, and muscle-relaxing effects, while pharmacopuncture aims to reduce the dose and, consequently, the volume of the drug administered, while preserving the desired sedative effect. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the sedative effects of subdoses of detomidine administered at the acupuncture points Yin Tang (n=6), VG-1 (n=6), and intravenously (n=6 - control group) in eighteen horses. The parameters assessed were Head Height, Auditory Stimulus, and Visual Stimulus, both before (M0) and after the drug administration, every 15 minutes, until a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes (M15, M30, M45, M60, and M75). The data were subjected to statistical analysis with a significant difference when p ≤ 0.05. The results showed that the sedation latency period was shorter in the IV (intravenous) group compared to the pharmacopuncture groups (YT and VG-1); however, the groups that received pharmacopuncture had a longer sedation duration. The animals in the VG-1 group showed a more significant reduction in responses to auditory and visual stimuli than the YT group. It is concluded that pharmacopuncture with detomidine at the VG-1 and Yin Tang acupuncture points provides effective sedation with greater duration, emphasizing the need for further studies to better understand the differences between acupuncture points and optimize the technique.