Antinociceptive effects of epidural and intravenous ketamine to somatic and visceral stimuli in rats.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the antinociceptive effect of epidural and intravenous ketamine on somatic and visceral stimuli and to address the emergency reaction.

METHODS

Rats were randomly allocated into nine groups (n = 6); five groups with chronically implanted epidural catheters received saline or 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg. kg-1 ketamine epidurally, four groups received saline, or 1, 5 and 10 mg. kg-1 ketamine i.v. To assess somatic and visceral antinociceptive effects, tail flick (TF) test and colorectal distension (CD) test were carried out, respectively. Emergence reactions were graded. Maximal possible effects (% MPE) were calculated.

RESULTS

Epidural ketamine increased % MPE in both tests in a dose-dependent fashion for 30 min (vs saline group, P < 0.05). Epidural ketamine 0.5 mg. kg-1 produced an increase in % MPE in the CD test (P < 0.05) but failed in the TF test. Intravenous ketamine, 10 mg. kg-1, produced 100 +/- 0 (mean +/- SE) % MPE in the CD test but 36 +/- 15% MPE in the TF test. Dose response curves indicated greater visceral antinociception than somatic. All rats showed emergence reactions following intravenous ketamine 10 and 5 mg. kg-1.

CONCLUSION

Both epidural and intravenous ketamine produce greater antinociceptive effects to visceral than to somatic stimulation, and that epidural ketamine has a low incidence of emergence reactions.