Resumen

BRICENO, Elena del C et al. Cardiovascular Effects of Xylazine in Rabbits: In vivo and In vitro Studies. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet. [online]. 2012, vol.53, n.1, pp.3-12. ISSN 0258-6576.

Xylazine is an a₂-adrenoceptor agonist widely employed in Veterinary Medicine as a sedative and analgesic compound. Xylazine cardiovascular effects have been attributed to direct and/or indirect actions, acting on target organs and/or modulating the autonomic outflow, respectively. The aim of this investigation was to determine the in vivo effect of xylazine on mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) in albino New Zealand rabbits and to assess the in vitro effects of xylazine on the isolated  right atrium and saphenous vein. Four rabbits were anesthetized and instrumentalized for directly measuring  MBP; and HR by electrocardiography respectively. After the stabilization of haemodynamic variables, intravenous cumulative increasing doses of xylazine were administered and evaluated.The effects of xylazine cumulative concentration-response curves on  the isolated right atrium and on the saphenous vein in conventional in vitro organ bath studies were assessed. Contraction rate (beats/min) and contraction force (g) were measured in the right atrium. Xylazine-induced contraction (g) in the absence and presence of prazosin (30nM) and yohimbine (0.1µM) was measured in the isolated saphenous vein. The intravenous administration of xylazine caused a biphasic response on the MBP, characterized by slight increase followed by a profound dose-dependent hypotension along with bradycardia. Xylazine did not modify the spontaneous activity of the isolated right atrium, although, yohimbine-sensitive and prazosin-resistant concentration-dependent contractions by xylazine were observed in the isolated saphenous vein. The results suggest that intravenous administration of xylazine causes a reduction in the MBP and bradycardia in the anesthetized rabbit, without a clear modification on the chronotropic and inotropic properties of the isolated right atrium. Nevertheless, xylazine caused vasocontraction of the isolated saphenous vein, primarily by activating a₂-adrenoceptors. Xylazine appears to exert its cardiovascular effects in the rabbit by modulating the autonomic nervous system outflow and not by a direct action on the heart

Palabras clave : Rabbits; xylazine; cardiovascular system; blood pressure; heart rate; blood veins.

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