Effects of chronic alcohol intake on anaesthetic responses to thiopentone sodium and midazolam in rats

ABSTRACT

This study was carried on 60 male Sprague Dawely rats. Forty rats were given a complete banced liquid diet containing 6.54% ethanol for 21 days [alchoholic] and 20 rats [control] were given the same diet except that dextran was substituted for the ethanol. The diets were removed 9 hours before testing and the animal given free access to water. Thiopentone sodium 50 and 80 mg/Kg or midazolam 3 and 6 mg/Kg were injected intraperitoneally and the animals were observed for loss of righting reflex and the duration of sleep. All experimental and control animals showed a significant weight gain. In alcohol fed rats there was a significant increase in the induction time compared with the control animals [p< 0.05] at a dose of 50 mg/Kg thiopentone sodium. At a dose of 80 mg/Kg there was no significant change in induction time and significant increase in duration of sleep [p< 0.05] compared with the control animals. On the other hand, midazolam at a dose of 3 and 6 mg/Kg either in control or alcohol group failed to induce anaesthesia but produced a long period of drowsiness and sedation