Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T11:18:34.417Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of intrathecal medetomidine on small bowel transit in the rat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2005

L. Bilir ,
B. Yelken ,
S. Guleç ,
A. Bilir  and
S. Ekemen
L. Bilir
Affiliation:
Government Hospital, Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation, Eskisehir, Turkey
B. Yelken
Affiliation:
Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Turkey
S. Guleç
Affiliation:
Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Turkey
A. Bilir
Affiliation:
Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Turkey
S. Ekemen
Affiliation:
Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Turkey
Get access

Abstract

Summary

Background and objective: Gastrointestinal motility is influenced by abdominal trauma, laparotomy and particularly by intestinal ischaemia. The reflex inhibition of gastrointestinal motility is mediated mainly by the sympathetic nervous system. There are reports on the effects of systemically applied α2-adrenoceptor agonists on gastric emptying and recovery of bowel motility, but the effect of spinally applied α2-adrenoceptor agonists on intestinal motility has not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrathecal medetomidine on gastrointestinal transit in rats after transient intestinal ischaemia.

Methods: Forty rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 each. Intrathecal catheter insertion and laparotomy were performed on each rat. Saline (10 μL) was injected intrathecally in Groups A and B. Medetomidine (10 μg in 10 μL) was injected intrathecally in Groups C and D. Intestinal ischaemia was induced in Groups B and D. Gastrointestinal transit was determined by measuring the length that a standardized marker meal of activated charcoal had travelled. Intrathecal medetomidine was compared to intrathecal saline in their effect on intestinal motility after 30 min period of bowel ischaemia.

Results: Laparotomy and intestinal ischaemia slowed gastrointestinal transit. Intrathecal medetomidine accelerated transit in both ischaemia and non-ischaemia groups.

Conclusion: Intrathecal medetomidine markedly accelerated small intestinal transit and may also hasten the recovery from post-ischaemic paralytic ileus.

Keywords

ADRENERGIC AGONISTS, adrenergic alpha-agonists, medetomidineDIGESTIVE PHYSIOLOGY, gastrointestinal motilityVASCULAR DISEASES, ISCHAEMIA, colitis, ischaemic
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 20 , Issue 11 , November 2003 , pp. 911 - 915
Copyright
2003 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Udassin R, Eimerl D, Schiffman J, Haskel Y. Epidural anesthesia accelerates the recovery of postischemic bowel motility in rat. Anesthesiology 1994; 80: 832–836.Google Scholar
Guisan YJ, Hreno A, Gurd FN. Effect of acute ischaemia on the motility of the bowel in the awake dog. Eur Surg Res 1975; 7: 22–33.Google Scholar
Bardon T, Ruckebusch Y. Comparative effects of opiate agonists on proximal and distal colonic motility in dogs. Eur J Pharmacol 1985; 110: 329–334.Google Scholar
Cheadle W, Vitale G, Mackie C, Cuschieri A. Prophylactic postoperative nasogastric decompression. A prospective study of its requirement and the influence of cimetidine in 200 patients. Ann Surg 1985; 202: 361–366.Google Scholar
Pironi L, Stanghellini V, Miglioli M, et al. Fat-induced ileal brake in humans: a dose-dependent phenomenon correlated to the plasma levels of peptide YY. Gastroenterology 1993; 105: 733–739.Google Scholar
Yee MK, Evans WD, Facey PE, Hayward MW, Rosen M. Gastric emptying and small bowel transit in male volunteers after IM ketorolac and morphine. Br J Anaesth 1991; 67: 426–431.Google Scholar
Ahn H, Bronge A, Johansson K, Ygge H, Lindhagen J. Effect of continuous postoperative epidural analgesia on intestinal motility. Br J Surg 1988; 75: 1176–1178.Google Scholar
Wattwil M, Thoren T, Hennerdal S, Garvill JE. Epidural analgesia with bupivacaine reduces postoperative paralytic ileus after hysterectomy. Anesth Analg 1989; 68: 353–358.Google Scholar
Carli F, Trudel JL, Belliveau P. The effect of intraoperative thoracic epidural anesthesia and postoperative analgesia on bowel function after colorectal surgery: a prospective, randomized trial. Dis Colon Rectum 2001; 44: 1083–1089.Google Scholar
Doze VA, Chen BX, Maze M. Dexmedetomidine produces a hypnotic–anesthetic action in rats via activation of central alpha-2 adrenoceptors. Anesthesiology 1989; 71: 75–79.Google Scholar
Segal IS, Vickery RG, Walton JK, Doze VA, Maze M. Dexmedetomidine diminishes halothane anesthetic requirements in rats through a postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenergic receptor. Anesthesiology 1988; 69: 818–823.Google Scholar
Tanila H, Kauppila T, Taira T. Inhibition of intestinal motility and reversal of post laparotomy ileus by selective alpha-2 adrenergic drugs in the rats. Gastroenterology 1993; 104: 819–824.Google Scholar
Asai T, Mapleson WW, Power I. Differential effects of clonidine and dexmedetomidine on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit in the rat. Br J Anaesth 1997; 78: 301–307.Google Scholar
Ruwart MJ, Klepper MS, Rush BD. Clonidine delays small intestinal transit in the rat. J Pharm Exper Therap 1980; 212: 487–490.Google Scholar
Gordh TJ, Jansson I, Hartvig P, Gillberg PG, Post C. Interactions between noradrenergic and cholinergic mechanism involved in spinal nociceptive processing. Acta Anesthesiol Scand 1989; 33: 39–47.Google Scholar
Livingston EH, Passaro EP Jr. Postoperative ileus. Dig Dis Sci 1990; 35: 121–132.Google Scholar
Liu SS, Carpenter RL, Mackey DC, et al. Effects of perioperative analgesic technique on rate of recovery after colon surgery. Anesthesiology 1995; 83: 757–765.Google Scholar
Asai T, Mapleson WW, Power I. Interactive effect of morphine and dexmedetomidine on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit in the rat. Br J Anaesth 1998; 80: 63–67.Google Scholar
Detweiler DJ, Eisenach JC, Tong C, Jackson C. A cholinergic interaction in alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated antinociception in sheep. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1993; 265: 536–542.Google Scholar
Stamford JA. Descending control of pain. Br J Anaesth 1995; 75: 217–227.Google Scholar
Klimscha W, Tong C, Eisenach JC. Intrathecal alpha-2 adrenergic agonists stimulate acetylcholine and norepinephrine release from the spinal cord dorsal horn in sheep. Anesthesiology 1997; 87: 110–116.Google Scholar
Hood D, Mallak K, Eisenach J, Tong C. Interaction between intrathecal neostigmine and epidural clonidine in human volunteers. Anesthesiology 1996; 85: 315–325.Google Scholar
Fargeas MJ, Fioramonti J, Bueno L. Central alpha-2 adrenergic control of the pattern of small intestinal motility in rats. Gastroenterology 1986; 91: 1470–1475.Google Scholar
Pertovaara A. Antinociception in bulboreticular neurons of the rat produced by spinally administered medetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist. Eur J Pharmacol 1991; 204: 9–14.Google Scholar
Meert TF, De Kock M. Potentiation of the analgesic properties of fentanyl-like opioids with alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists in rats. Anesthesiology 1994; 81: 677–688.Google Scholar
Reilly JA, Quigley EMM, Forst CF, Rikkers LF. Small intestinal transit in the portal hypertensive rat. Gastroenterology 1991; 100: 670–674.Google Scholar