Zolazepam Hydrochloride Research Articles

Contribution of amino acid transmitters to epileptiform activity and reflex suppression in electrically head stunned sheep

In sheep, administration of a combination of zolazepam and tiletamine hydrochloride resulted in a dose dependent reduction in the duration of epileptic activity induced by an electric stun applied to the head. The compound also lengthened the normal period of reflex suppression that occurs after a stun. Excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists (2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic and 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acids) also reduced the duration of epileptic activity following an electric stun. These drugs did not alter the time of pedal and ear pinch reflex suppression. Administration of bicuculline (a gamma amino-4-butyric acid [ GABA] receptor antagonist) reduced the period of stun induced reflex suppression and increased seizure duration. Administration of a GABA receptor agonist, baclofen, increased the duration of reflex suppression. The results suggest that the development of epileptiform-like activity following application of an electric current to the head is dependent upon excitatory amino acid receptors. The reflex suppression that also arises following an electric stun is contributed to by the activation of GABA receptor mechanisms.

Immobilization of Gray Wolves with a Combination of Tiletamine Hydrochloride and Zolazepam Hydrochloride

We immobilized 51 free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus) with a combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride. Effective initial dose 400 mg (x=10.4±0.6 [SE] mg/kg of body mass). Mean induction and recovery times were 7.2±1.4 minutes and 144±35 minutes, respectively. We did not not observe adverse effects

Immobilization of Grizzly Bears with Tiletamine Hydrochloride and Zolazepam Hydrochloride

We successfully immobilized 185 grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) with tiletamine hydrochloride (HC1) and zolazepam HCl during May-June 1986-87. One hundred eighty bears were captured in several areas in Alaska by darting from a helicopter; 5 were immobilized from traps or snares in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Use of the recommended dose for immobilizing grizzly bears (7-9 mg/ kg) resulted in a mean induction time of 4.1 + 1.8 (SD) minutes and a safe handling period of 45-75 minutes. Tiletamine HCl/zolazepam HCI was an excellent drug for immobilizing grizzly bears because of rapid induction, timely and predictable recovery, wide safety margin, and few adverse side effects. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 53(4):978-981 A 1:1 mixture of tiletamine HCI and zolazepam HCI (TZHCL) (Telazol?, A. H. Robins Co., Richmond, Va.; Zoletil?, Reading Lab., L'Hayles-Roses, France) has been used to immobilize several wildlife species (Schobert 1987). Appropriate dosages have been established for freeranging polar (Ursus maritimus) (Haigh et al. 1985, Stirling et al. 1985) and black bears (Ursus americanus) (Stewart et al. 1980). However, the literature only mentions its use on captive grizzly bears (Gray et al. 1974, Bush et al. 1980). Tiletamine HCI is a cyclohexamine dissociative anesthetic agent, with a pharmacological action characterized by cataleptoid anesthesia, analgesia, normal pharyngeal-laryngeal reflexes, and muscle rigidity. Eyes normally remain open with the pupils dilated; however, corneal reflex is maintained. Zolazepam HCI is a diazepinone tranquilizer with central nervous system depressant actions characterized by muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant, and hypnosis (A. H. Robins Co., Telazol?, package insert, Richmond, Va., 1987). Combining the 2 products results in the manifestation of desirable characteristics of each while minimizing undesirable side effects. Even though TZHCL is classified as a general anesthetic, the eyelids usually remain open and, at lower dosages: corneal, palpebral, laryngeal, pharyngeal, pedal, and pinnal reflexes persist. The pedal and pinnal reflexes diminish at higher dosages (Gray et al. 1974). The objective of our study was to establish effective dosages of TZHCL and determine the benefits and disadvantages associated with its use to immobilize free-ranging grizzly bears. We thank S. D. Miller and B. H. Campbell for providing additional opportunity for testing this drug. They also assisted in data collection and manuscript review. Funding was provided by the State of Alaska, National Park Service, and several Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration

CHEMICAL RESTRAINT AND ANESTHESIA OF PINNIPEDS: A REVIEW

AbstractDrugs used to restrain and anesthetize pinnipeds have included neuromuscular blocking agents, narcotic analgesics, barbiturates, cyclohexamines, ataractics and inhalational agents. Problems associated with narrow margins of safety, thermoregulatory disturbances, cardiovascular changes and fatalities have excluded all but the cyclohexamines, ataractics and inhalational agents from presently accepted drugs for chemical restraint and anesthesia of pinnipeds. Combinations of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride show great promise for immobilizing some species of pinnipeds in the field and inhalational agents are recommended for surgical anesthesia.

Immobilization of polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps) with a mixture of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride.

A 1:1 mixture of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride was tested on 39 polar bears in and near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada during October 1983. The mean dose for satisfactory immobilization with a single injection was 5.1 mg/kg. Bears showed signs of ataxia from 1-3 min following injection and were usually sitting within 4 min. The mean induction time, taken as the adoption of sternal recumbency, was 5.1 min. Maximum relaxation was usually seen by about 20 min post-injection. The duration of immobilization appeared to be related to the dose of drug received. In bears that received a dose near the mean, recumbency lasted about 2 hr. Cubs of the year recovered more quickly than adults. Preliminary results indicated that the bears did not suffer respiratory depression and were able to thermoregulate while immobilized. Bears could be handled safely while under the effects of the drug and workers could readily evaluate the state of their sedation by their reactions. The drug did not appear to provide good analgesia at the doses tested.

Effect of different levels of simulated altitude on O 2 transport in llama and sheep

Effect of different levels of simulated altitude on O 2 transport in llama and sheep