Effects of opioids in the formalin test in the Speke’s hinged tortoise (Kinixy’s)
Date
2009Author
Wambugu, S N
Towett, P K
Kiama, S G
Abelson, K S P
Kanui, T I
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Little is known about analgesia in lower vertebrates such as the Speke’s hinged
tortoise (Kinixy’s spekii), yet of late they are increasingly being adopted as pets.
The effects of morphine (5, 7.5, 10 and 20 mg⁄ kg), pethidine (10, 20, and
50 mg⁄ kg) and naloxone (5 mg⁄ kg) on nociception induced by the formalin
test (12.5%, 100 lL) were studied in the Speke’s hinged tortoise. Formalin
induced a monophasic limb retraction behavioural response and its duration
was recorded. The behaviour lasted for 16.4 ± 0.8 min. Morphine (7.5, 10 and
20 mg⁄ kg) and pethidine (20 and 50 mg⁄ kg) induced significant decrease in
the duration of limb retraction in the formalin test. The anti-nociceptive effects
were naloxone (5 mg⁄ kg) reversible. The data suggest that the formalin test is a
good test for studying nociception and anti-nociception in tortoises and that the
opioidergic system plays a role in the control of nociception in these animals.
URI
http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10217https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45277314_