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Effects of intravenous xylazine hydrochloride on blood glucose, plasma insulin and rectal temperature in neonatal foals
Author(s) -
ROBERTSON S. A.,
CARTER S. W.,
DONOVAN M.,
STEELE C.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04204.x
Subject(s) - xylazine , medicine , rectal temperature , anesthesia , insulin , plasma glucose , horse , endocrinology , ketamine , biology , paleontology
Summary The effects of intravenous xylazine hydrochloride on blood glucose, plasma insulin and rectal temperature were investigated in six foals at 10 and 28 days of age. These variables were also measured in three foals at 19 days of age when saline alone was injected. Rectal temperature fell significantly after 30 mins in both groups of xylazine treated foals and was still depressed after 120 mins. Hypothermia did not occur in the saline control group. There was no significant change in blood glucose or plasma insulin concentrations during the 120 mins following either xylazine or saline administration and no significant differences between the three groups of foals. When foals were allowed to suckle after being away from their dams for 2 h, there was a significant (P < 0.01) rise in plasma insulin levels in all the groups. Blood glucose showed a concomitant rise but this was only significant in the saline group. Unlike adults, intravenous xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) does not produce hypoinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia in foals. This study suggests that the inhibition of insulin release from pancreatic ß‐cells by xylazine, which in adults is α 2 ‐adrenoceptor mediated, is immature or absent in foals under one month of age.