| RESEARCH PAPER |
|
| Year : 2000 | Volume
: 32
| Issue : 3 | Page : 206-209 |
Nimodipine potentiates anaesthetic effect of ethanol, pentobarbitone and ketamine in rats
J Singh, P Khosla, RK Srivastava
Correspondence Address:
J Singh
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
Objective: To investigate whether nimodipine (NM), a cerebrovascular selective Ca2+ antagonist, potentiates the anaesthetic effects of ethanol, pentobarbitone and ketamine in rats.
Methods: Groups of overnight fasted albino rats received either ethanol (2.5 ml/100g, 25% solution, p.o.), or pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg, i.p.) or ketamine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) along with vehicle (n= 10 in each group). In another experiment, groups of animals were pre-treated with NM (10 mg/kg, i.p.) along with either one of ethanol, pentobarbitone or ketamine. Animals were assessed for loss of righting reflex. The onset and duration of anaesthetic effect in all groups was recorded. Effect of NM alone (10,20 and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) was also observed in normal rats.
Results: NM significantly (p <0.01) potentiated the anaesthetic effects of ethanol, pentobarbitone and ketamine in rats. NM pretreatment reduced the onset while prolonged the duration of anaesthetic effects of these agents. NM itself failed to produce any anaesthetic effect.
Conclusion: Potentiation of anaesthetic effects of ethanol, pentobarbitone and ketamine by NM may be at least in part, due to modulation of voltage dependent Ca2+ channels.
[PDF]*
|
