Journal
LABORATORY ANIMALS
Volume 49, Issue 3, Pages 177-187Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/0023677214562849
Keywords
analgesia; buprenorphine; sustained release; mouse; pain
Categories
Funding
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (Bern, Switzerland)
- Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association
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Sustained-release formulations of analgesic drugs are promising alternatives to repeated drug injections. Here, we compared a sustained-release formulation of buprenorphine (SB, 2.2mg/kg) with a standard protocol of three injections of buprenorphine (Temgesic, 0.1mg/kg/8h) in mice. Buprenorphine serum concentration and analgesic action (thermal sensitivity) were determined in healthy mice. Additionally, the pain relief properties of both protocols were assessed after laparotomy using physiological and ethological measures of pain and recovery. Serum concentrations and thermal sensitivity tests indicated duration of action of at least 4h (but less than 8h) with the Temgesic protocol, and 24-48h with SB. Behavioural and clinical parameters indicated at least partial pain relief after surgery for both protocols. Observed side-effects of buprenorphine independent of the protocol were increased activity, disturbed circadian rhythm and several abnormal behaviours. A tendency for decreased food and water intake as well as body weight reduction was also seen. Body weight decreased significantly in animals that received three injections of Temgesic, regardless of whether surgery was performed or not (P=0.015; P=0.023), hinting at a stress response towards this repeated intervention. In conclusion, an application interval of 8h (Temgesic) appears too long and might lead to repeated periods with insufficient analgesia in animals undergoing lasting and/or substantial pain after surgery. In comparison to the standard protocol, SB provided a long-lasting, assured analgesia without possible stressful repeated injections in a standard surgical model, with only limited and acceptable behavioural side-effects.
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