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Biomedical subjects

G J Benson

Publications and source records attributed to G J Benson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Plasma cortisol and norepinephrine concentrations in castrated male pigs maintained in pairs in outdoor pens and in a confinement finishing house: assessment of stress.

A catheter-backpack system was developed for repeated blood collection in pigs. Castrated male pigs (n = 12) were maintained in pairs in outdoor pens and later in a slotted-floor confinement finishing house. Blood collection required no restraint and appeared to be stress free. Serum cortisol concentration was unchanged by mode of maintenance. However, diurnal variation of cortisol was more pronounced when pigs were housed. A significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in serum norepinephrine concentration occurred during the housing period.

Animals↗

Halothane-catecholamine arrhythmias in swine (Sus scrofa).

The arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) was determined in 6 pigs during steady-state anesthesia (1.5% halothane in O2) and steady-state anesthesia plus xylazine (1.1 mg X kg-1 X hr-1; IV infusion) and after either prazosin (alpha 1) or metoprolol (beta 1) adrenergic blockade during halothane-xylazine (H-X) anesthesia. A constant infusion (1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1) of freshly mixed epinephrine (100 micrograms X ml-1 in saline solution) was used to determine ADE. The ADE was defined as the total dose of epinephrine which produced 4 or more continuous or intermittent, premature, ventricular contractions within a 15-s period. The mean epinephrine total dose values during 1.5% halothane anesthesia, H-X anesthesia alone, or H-X anesthesia after either prazosin (0.1 mg X kg-1) or metoprolol (0.5 mg X kg-1) adrenergic blockade were 3.60 +/- 0.844, 2.68 +/- 0.402, 11.85 +/- 3.804, and 5.17 +/- 0.587 micrograms X kg-1, respectively. Xylazine administration did not significantly decrease ADE, although mean arterial pressure significantly increased. Prazosin administration significantly increased ADE and was associated with an increased heart rate and a decreased mean arterial pressure. We conclude that alpha 1-blockade with prazosin is more protective to epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in H-X-anesthetized pigs than is beta 1-blockade with metoprolol.

Anesthesia↗

Cardiopulmonary responses of swine to intravenous infusion of guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine.

Swine were anesthetized with a 5% solution of dextrose in water containing 50 mg of guaifenesin, 1 mg of ketamine, and 1 mg of xylazine X ml-1 (G-K-X) infused IV at a rate of 2.2 ml X kg-1 X hr-1. Mean arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance were significantly increased from base-line values throughout the 2 hours of G-K-X infusion. Cardiac index decreased significantly initially, but returned to near base line at 30 minutes. Fifteen minutes after G-K-X infusion was discontinued, cardiac index was not significantly different from base line. Heart rate decreased significantly from base line 90 minutes after infusion of G-K-X began and remained so throughout the study. However, the mean heart rate remained within the acceptable range for swine. Rate-pressure product was not significantly altered. The PaCO2 decreased, and arterial pH increased significantly from base line, supporting our clinical impression that pigs breathe well when anesthetized with G-K-X. We conclude that G-K-X is a satisfactory combination of drugs for induction and maintenance of surgical anesthesia in healthy swine for a period of 2 hours.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗

Cardiopulmonary effects of continuous intravenous infusion of guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine in ponies.

Eight ponies were anesthetized with a solution containing 50 mg of guaifenesin, 1 mg of ketamine, and 0.5 mg of xylazine X ml-1 of 5% dextrose in water. Anesthesia was induced by IV injection (1.1 ml X kg-1), followed by continuous IV infusion at 2.75 ml X kg-1 X hr-1. Heart rate, rate-pressure product, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and standard bicarbonate were not significantly changed throughout the study. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and left ventricular stroke work index were significantly decreased at 5 and 15 minutes after a bolus of the anesthetic solution was injected. Systolic blood pressure returned to within the base-line range at 30 minutes, but diastolic and mean arterial pressures were significantly decreased throughout the study. Cardiac index and arterial pH were decreased at 5 minutes only. Systemic vascular resistance was significantly decreased 60 minutes after bolus injection was given. Hypoventilation, as indicated by increased PaCO2, occurred 5 minutes after bolus injection was given.

Anesthesia, General↗

Alterations in the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine after adrenergic receptor blockade with prazosin, metoprolol, or yohimbine in halothane-xylazine-anesthetized dogs.

Recent evidence has linked alpha-receptor and beta-receptor activations with ventricular arrhythmia genesis. In order to assess the relative contribution of specific adrenoceptors (alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1) on ventricular arrhythmogenic activity during xylazine (1.1 mg X kg-1 X hr-1)-halothane (1.35%) anesthesia, the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) was repeatedly determined before and after prazosin (alpha 1 antagonist; 0.1 mg X kg-1), metoprolol (beta 1 antagonist; 0.5 mg X kg-1), and yohimbine (alpha 2 antagonist; 0.125 mg X kg-1) administration in 6 dogs. The ADE was expressed as infusion rate and total dose. The ADE was defined as the dose which produced 4 or more intermittent premature ventricular contractions within 15 s during a 3-minute infusion period or within 1 minute from end of infusion. Control ADE was 2.69 +/- 0.372 (micrograms X kg-1 X min-1) and 4.17 +/- 0.544 (micrograms X kg X -1) for infusion rate and total dose, respectively. The ADE significantly increased after prazosin (P less than 0.005), metoprolol (P less than 0.005), and yohimbine (P less than 0.05) administration. The ADE values increased to 5.42 +/- 1.22 (rate) and 8.10 +/- 1.95 (dose) after alpha 2 blockade, but were significantly less than the alpha 1 and beta 1 blockade ADE values. In conclusion, although both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blockade depressed ventricular arrhythmia genesis in xylazine-halothane-anesthetized dogs, alpha 2 blockade, which was achieved with the recommended dose of yohimbine for reversal of anesthetic-induced CNS depression, was not as protective as alpha 1 (prazosin) or beta 1 (metoprolol) blockade.

Anesthesia↗

Anesthetic potency of nitrous oxide in young swine (Sus scrofa).

Determination of nitrous oxide (N2O) potency was accomplished by extrapolation using the concepts of minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) and additivity among inhalation anesthetics. Halothane and isoflurane anesthetic requirement (alveolar concentration) necessary to achieve MAC in 9 pigs decreased with each successive increase in the percentage of inspired N2O (25%, 50%, 75%). Halothane and isoflurane MAC was determined to be 0.94 +/- 0.03 and 1.75 +/- 0.01 volumes percent, respectively. Halothane and isoflurane requirements decreased to 0.74 +/- 0.02, 0.66 +/- 0.02, and 0.58 +/- 0.02; and to 1.56 +/- 0.02, 1.38 +/- 0.02, and 1.08 +/- 0.03 volumes percent with 25%, 50%, and 75% N2O, respectively. The line of best fit derived from regression analysis of the combined data (isoflurane and halothane MAC values) had a correlation coefficient of 0.987 and an X intercept equivalent to 195% N2O. The potency of N2O in pigs was similar to that of other domesticated mammals and reduced halothane and isoflurane anesthetic requirements by approximately 50% of the reduction observed in human beings.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Influence of nifedipine on xylazine-induced acute pressor response in halothane-anesthetized dogs.

Effects and interaction of nifedipine (Ca channel blocker) and xylazine (mixed alpha agonist) during halothane anesthesia were examined in 6 dogs. After achievement of steady-state halothane (1.35%) anesthesia, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded in these dogs during 3-minute saline or nifedipine (20 micrograms/kg) infusion periods. Seven minutes after the end of saline or nifedipine infusion, xylazine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight) was infused over a 2-minute period. After saline pretreatment, xylazine administration increased diastolic BP (33.67 +/- 3.91 mm of Hg) and decreased HR. Nifedipine infusion induced a transient reduction in BP, accompanied by a more persistent increase in HR. Compared with saline pretreatment, nifedipine pretreatment significantly decreased the acute increase in diastolic BP (33.67 +/- 3.91 vs 14.00 +/- 2.94 mm of Hg) which occurred during xylazine injection. After saline and nifedipine infusions, xylazine administration decreased HR 30 +/- 15.02 and 36.5 +/- 10.36 beats/min, respectively. A pronounced sinus arrhythmia and/or 2nd-degree atrioventricular block developed in all dogs during xylazine injection after saline infusion. Arrhythmias were not observed in the dogs after nifedipine infusion. Nifedipine's Ca blocking action depressed xylazine-induced acute vasoconstriction and concomitant increase in diastolic BP. Because alpha 2-, but not alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction is Ca-dependent, these results indicate that a portion of the acute pressor response induced by IV xylazine in halothane-anesthetized dogs may be alpha 2-mediated. Seemingly, nifedipine-induced hypotension and damping of xylazine-induced increases in BP attenuated xylazine's actions on cardiac rate and rhythm.

Anesthesia, General↗

Cardiopulmonary effects of an intravenous infusion of guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine in dogs.

A 5% solution of dextrose in water containing 50 mg of guaifenesin, 0.25 mg of xylazine, and 1 mg of ketamine/ml was infused IV at the rate of 2.2 ml X kg-1 X hour-1 in dogs. Heart rate, systemic vascular resistance, mean arterial blood pressure, rate-pressure product, and arterial oxygen tension were not altered significantly from baseline values during 2 hours of anesthesia. Cardiac index was significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased from base-line values. Hypoventilation resulted in increased arterial carbon dioxide tension and decreased arterial pH. After the dogs were given glycopyrrolate, cardiac index returned to base line, and heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and rate-pressure product were significantly greater (P less than 0.05) than base-line values.

Anesthesia, General↗

A nonrestrictive method for maintaining grouped swine for blood sampling applicable to physiologic assessment of stress.

Studies of the stress response in swine require repeated blood sampling to determine diurnal variations of measured parameters. Most of these methods require elaborate artificial habitats such as metabolism crates and/or physical restraint for venipuncture. In either case, the aversive nature of the sampling procedure induces activation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenal cortical axis. The development of a nonaversive procedure for repeated blood sampling of swine is described in this paper. The pigs were unrestrained and maintained in groups in a variety of habitats.

Animal Husbandry↗

Halothane-sparing effect of xylazine in dogs and subsequent reversal with tolazoline.

Halothane MAC (the minimum alveolar concentration of halothane to produce anaesthesia in 50% of the animals tested) was determined to be 0.92 +/- 0.16 volumes % in eight English Pointer dogs. Alterations in halothane MAC induced by an intravenous bolus of xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) and then tolazoline (5 mg/kg) was determined in each dog following control (halothane MAC) measurement. Following xylazine administration, MAC significantly decreased to 0.57 +/- 0.023%. Immediately following determination of the xylazine-halothane MAC value in each dog, tolazoline was administered and the halothane requirement (MAC) was again assessed. Halothane MAC significantly increased to 1.24 +/- 0.036%. Tolazoline administration induced immediate arousal in the xylazine-halothane anaesthetized dogs requiring a rapid increase in halothane concentration to maintain anaesthesia. Thus, the administration of tolazoline, an alpha adrenergic antagonist, following xylazine administration significantly increased the anaesthetic requirement (MAC) of halothane. Xylazine, an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist, decreased halothane anaesthetic requirement (MAC) in the eight dogs studied. These results are consistent with the hypotheses that stimulation of central alpha 2 receptors is the mechanism by which xylazine produces sedation and that inhibition of CNS excitatory neurotransmitter release decreases halothane anaesthetic requirement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia during xylazine-ketamine anesthesia in Thoroughbred horses.

Plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations in Thoroughbreds administered xylazine hydrochloride (1.1 mg/kg; IV) and ketamine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg; IV) at dosages sufficient to induce short periods of recumbency and anesthesia were measured. Samples of blood were collected from 6 adult horses before, during, and after the anesthetic period. Plasma glucose (mg/dl) was significantly increased above control (-30 minute concentration) from 15 to 150 minutes after xylazine administration with the peak value occurring at 30 minutes. Serum insulin (microU/ml) was significantly decreased from control from 5 to 90 minutes after xylazine administration, with the nadir occurring at 15 minutes. The alterations in plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations in xylazine-ketamine-anesthetized horses were similar to the changes in xylazine-sedated horses.

Anesthesia↗

Anesthesia for cesarean section in the dog and cat.

Anesthesia for cesarean section should ideally provide adequate muscle relaxation, analgesia, and narcosis or sedation for optimal operating conditions and safety to the dam. Since drugs that depress the dam must cross the blood-brain barrier, however, it is impossible to anesthetize the dam and not expose the fetuses to the anesthetic. No one agent or protocol is ideal for all dams, and satisfactory anesthesia for cesarean section can be induced in a number of ways. Cesarean section can be performed with either regional or general anesthesia.

Anesthesia, Conduction↗

Decreased tear production associated with general anesthesia in the horse.

Schirmer I tear tests were conducted on 14 horses. The test was performed before and after IV administration of xylazine hydrochloride, during maintenance anesthesia with halothane in oxygen, and 3 hours after discontinuation of anesthesia. Xylazine hydrochloride did not decrease tear production from the mean base-line value of 23.94 +/- 5.23 mm/min after its IV administration. Tear production was decreased to mean values of 15.57 +/- 4.29 mm/min at 30 minutes and 13.84 +/- 4.25 mm/min at 60 minutes during the maintenance of halothane anesthesia. Three hours after anesthesia was discontinued, tear production returned to a mean value of 22.58 +/- 4.12 mm/min.

Anesthesia, General↗

Organ blood flow and distribution of cardiac output in hypocapnic ketamine-anesthetized swine.

Organ blood flow and distribution of cardiac output (CO) were determined in 9 awake (control) and ketamine-anesthesized swine (4 mg/kg bolus followed by continuous infusion of 0.3 mg/kg/min, IV), using 15 micron diameter radionuclide-labeled microspheres. Absolute values of blood flow (per 100 g basis) were determined for various organs and peripheral tissues. Internal organs of the swine, which constituted 8.25 +/- 0.79% of the total body mass, received 55.83 +/- 5.13% of the CO. The fraction of CO received by brain, heart, kidneys, liver (via hepatic artery), and gastrointestinal tract was 1.10%, 2.67%, 19.84%, 11.81%, and 16.84%, respectively. During ketamine anesthesia, the fraction of CO perfusing the kidneys and liver (hepatic artery) increased from control and values for brain, heart, and splanchnic organs remained unchanged. Blood flow (per unit weight) of brain, cardiac, and splanchnic organs decreased; kidney and skeletal muscle blood flow was unaltered; and hepatic arterial blood flow increased from the awake (control) values. The hyperdynamic state often associated with ketamine anesthesia was not evident in these pigs during intermittent positive-pressure ventilation resulting in hypocapnia.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Systemic and regional blood flow distribution in unanesthetized swine and swine anesthetized with halothane + nitrous oxide, halothane, or enflurane.

In order to study the distribution of cardiac output during various anesthetic regimens, we measured regional organ blood flow using 15 micrometers diameter radionuclide-labeled microspheres injected into the left atrium. Studies were carried out in nine pigs during resting unanesthetized state (control), during halothane (inspired concentration = 1.25 per cent) + nitrous oxide (50 per cent) anesthesia, during halothane (inspired concentration = 2.25 per cent) anesthesia, and during enflurane (inspired concentration = 4.0 per cent) anesthesia. The order of the last two treatments [halothane (2.25 per cent) and enflurane (4.0 per cent)] was randomized among the nine pigs. All anesthetic steps employed intermittent positive-pressure ventilation to maintain PaCO2 close to control values. Animals were allowed to recover towards the control state before changing to the next anesthetic regimen. Forty-five minutes were allowed for equilibration with each anesthetic regimen before hemodynamic measurements were made. In unanesthetized resting swine blood flow received by brain, cardiac ventricles, kidneys, liver (via hepatic artery), gastrointestinal tract, and skeletal muscle was 63.70 +/- 5.56, 128.56 +/- 14.92, 280.89 +/- 19.72, 21.95 +/- 3.25, 148.55 +/- 15.29 and 13.76 +/- 4.12 ml . min-1 . 100 g-1, respectively (mean +/- SEM). Corresponding values for the percentage of cardiac output received by the brain, cardiac ventricles, kidneys, liver (via hepatic artery), and gastrointestinal tract were 1.13 +/- .08, 3.04 +/- 0.13, 12.95 +/- 1.54, 4.27 +/- 0.76, and 18.71 +/- 0.91 per cent, respectively. Cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly from control values with each of the three anesthetized steps. The decrease in cardiac output was greatest with the halothane anesthesia and least with halothane + N2O. Blood flow per unit weight of the cardiac, renal, and splanchnic tissues decreased significantly with each anesthetic regimen whereas brain blood flow and hepatic arterial blood flow were unaltered from control values. Thus, the per cent cardiac output received by the brain had increased with halothane (119 per cent) and enflurane (102 per cent) anesthesia while it was unaltered from the heart, renal, and splanchnic organs. Percentage of total cardiac output received by liver via the hepatic artery increased by 162 per cent during halothane anesthesia and 133 per cent during enflurane anesthesia, when compared to control values. During halothane + nitrous oxide anesthesia, the per cent of cardiac output going to the brain was not increased significantly. It is concluded that cardiac output as well as individual organ/tissue blood flow was better maintained during halothane + nitrous oxide anesthesia in comparison to halothane or enflurane anesthesia.

Animals↗

Xylazine hydrochloride-induced hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in thoroughbred horses.

The effects of intravenous xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) were studied in six thoroughbred horses (five mares and a stallion). Plasma glucose concentration increased to 168% of control at 45 min and decreased to 112% of control at 180 min. Insulin had decreased to 31% of control at 15 min. Thereafter, insulin concentration increased, reaching its highest concentration at 150 min. The mechanism for these changes is not fully understood and further investigation is indicated.

Animals↗

Radiographic characterization of diaphragmatic excursion in halothane-anesthetized ponies: spontaneous and controlled ventilation systems.

A radiograph technique for identification of diaphragmatic segments and quantitation of their contribution to total diaphragmatic function was developed. five anesthetized ponies were studied on 3 separate occasions. Studies were made of the ponies in left lateral recumbency at 2 anesthetic levels (1 and 2 minimal alveolar anesthetic concentrations; halothane) and under spontaneous and controlled ventilation systems. General pattern of diaphragmatic displacement was unchanged by increased depth of anesthesia. Controlled ventilation altered the pattern of diaphragmatic displacement. Diaphragmatic displacement and regional volume changes were a function of active contraction or passive movement.

Anesthesia↗