Inhibition of intestinal motility and reversal of postlaparotomy ileus by selective alpha 2-adrenergic drugs in the rat.

BACKGROUND

The effects of selective alpha-agonist medetomidine and alpha 2-antagonist atipamezole on gastrointestinal motility were studied.

METHODS

The passage of intragastrically administered Evans blue in the small bowel of unanesthetized rats was followed, and the stomachs were weighted after killing the rats.

RESULTS

Subcutaneous medetomidine, 0.01-0.1 mg/kg, was found to delay small intestinal transit but not gastric emptying, with a maximal effect seen at 0.03 mg/kg. Atipamezole fully reversed the effect of 0.1 mg/kg of medetomidine with a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. Atipamezole alone did not affect small intestinal transit. Subcutaneous morphine, 6 mg/kg, delayed gastric emptying and small intestinal transit, whereas intraperitoneal morphine only delayed gastric emptying. Subcutaneous atipamezole, 0.06 mg/kg, was partially able to reverse the delayed intestinal transit but did not inhibit morphine-induced gastric retention. Subcutaneous atipamezole, 0.06 mg/kg, reversed laparotomy-induced ileus completely.

CONCLUSIONS

Atipamezole may provide a useful treatment for postlaparotomy ileus.