TY - JOUR

T1 - The effects of morphine on gas exchange, ventilation pattern and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia in dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)

AU - Malte, Christian Lind

AU - Bundgaard, Jonas A.

AU - Jensen, Michael Schou

AU - Bertelsen, Mads Frost

AU - Wang, Tobias

PY - 2018/8

Y1 - 2018/8

N2 - Morphine and other opioids cause respiratory depression in high doses and lower the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in mammals. Recent studies indicate that turtles respond similarly, but although they are used routinely for post surgical analgesia, little is known about the physiological effects of opioids in reptiles. We therefore investigated the effects of morphine (10 and 20 mg kg(-1)) on gas exchange and ventilation in six dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) using pneumotachography in a crossover design. Intraperitoneal injections of morphine changed the ventilation pattern from a typical intermittent/periodic pattern with a few or several breaths in ventilatory bouts to single breaths and prolonged the apnoea, such that respiratory frequency was depressed, while tidal volume was elevated. Furthermore, the duration of inspiration and especially expiration was prolonged. The resulting decrease in minute ventilation was attended by a lowering of the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (especially for 20 mg kg(-1) dose) indicating CO2 retention with a long time constant for approaching the new steady state. The changes in ventilation pattern and gas exchange reached a new stable level approximately 3h after the morphine injection and did not significantly affect steady state O-2 uptake, i.e. O-2 consumption. As expected, the ventilatory response to 5% O-2 was lower in morphine-treated caimans, but minute ventilation upon exposure to 2% CO2 did not differ significantly different from control animals.

AB - Morphine and other opioids cause respiratory depression in high doses and lower the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in mammals. Recent studies indicate that turtles respond similarly, but although they are used routinely for post surgical analgesia, little is known about the physiological effects of opioids in reptiles. We therefore investigated the effects of morphine (10 and 20 mg kg(-1)) on gas exchange and ventilation in six dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) using pneumotachography in a crossover design. Intraperitoneal injections of morphine changed the ventilation pattern from a typical intermittent/periodic pattern with a few or several breaths in ventilatory bouts to single breaths and prolonged the apnoea, such that respiratory frequency was depressed, while tidal volume was elevated. Furthermore, the duration of inspiration and especially expiration was prolonged. The resulting decrease in minute ventilation was attended by a lowering of the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (especially for 20 mg kg(-1) dose) indicating CO2 retention with a long time constant for approaching the new steady state. The changes in ventilation pattern and gas exchange reached a new stable level approximately 3h after the morphine injection and did not significantly affect steady state O-2 uptake, i.e. O-2 consumption. As expected, the ventilatory response to 5% O-2 was lower in morphine-treated caimans, but minute ventilation upon exposure to 2% CO2 did not differ significantly different from control animals.

KW - INDUCED RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION

KW - BREATHING PATTERN

KW - OPIOID RECEPTORS

KW - ANALGESIC EFFICACY

KW - BUTORPHANOL

KW - TURTLES

KW - MU

KW - PULMONARY

KW - ALLIGATOR

KW - REPTILES

U2 - 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.03.008

DO - 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.03.008

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29555580

VL - 222

SP - 60

EP - 65

JO - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

JF - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

SN - 1095-6433

ER -