Efeitos da xilazina e detomidina no acuponto VG1 em equinos

Abstract

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists are drugs frequently used in equine clinics, with sedative, analgesic and myorelaxant effects. Due to the distribution of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors throughout the body, administration of these agents can result in a variety of dose-dependent systemic effects in the patient, such as changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinalsystems and laboratory changes. Thus, pharmacopuncture focuses on reducing the dose and consequently the administered volume of the agent, to reduce its adverse effects, preserving the desired clinical effect. This study aimed to evaluate the sedative and systemic effects promoted by the administration of subdoses of xylazine (XIL) and detomidine (DET) at the VG1 acupoint in horses. For this purpose, 24 horses were selected, divided into four groups: DET IV (6), DET VG1 (6), XIL IV (6) and XIL VG1 (6) for the evaluation of the parameters (Head Height, Sound Stimulus, Visual Stimulus, Rectal Temperature, Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, P-R Interval, Systolic Blood Pressure, Intestinal Motility, Glycemia, Hematocrit and Total Plasma Proteins). Evaluations of head height, visual stimulus and sound stimulus demonstrated that the sedation latency period of the groups that received the agents intravenously was shorter when compared to the groups that received the application at the acupoint. The longest effective sedation time occurred in the DET VG1 group, while animals in the XIL VG1 group did not show effective sedation. The rectal temperature of all animals remained within physiological parameters for the species during the time evaluated, however, a significant decrease in rectal temperature was observed from M105 onwards in the DET VG1 group (P<0.05). The values of heart rate, respiratory rate, P-R interval and systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, hematocrit and total plasma proteins showed no statistical difference (P>0.05) at the evaluation moments. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in intestinal motility after the application of Xylazine intravenously and after the application of Detomidine by both routes. It is concluded that pharmacopuncture using Detomidine on the VG1 acupoint promoted effective sedation, lasting longer and reducing adverse effects. Pharmacopuncture with Xylazine at the acupoint did not reach satisfactory levels of sedation, indicating the need for studies that standardize drugs, dosages and acupoints that can be used together in horses.