Cardiopulmonary effects of xylazine and yohimbine in laterally recumbent sheep.

The effects of yohimbine (0.125 mg/kg) on cardiopulmonary parameters in six adult, xylazine treated (0.15 mg/kg), laterally recumbent sheep were studied. Following collection of baseline data, xylazine was administered intravenously and data were collected five and fifteen minutes later. At twenty minutes post-xylazine either yohimbine (0.125 mg/kg) or saline was given and further collection of data occurred at 25, 30, 40 and 50 minutes. Xylazine administration resulted in significant (P less than 0.05) respiratory depression, as reflected by a decrease in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2). No significant changes in haemodynamic variables were observed. Yohimbine produced a significant improvement in PaO2 at the 50 minute period and abolished the paradoxical respiratory pattern when present. The results indicated that yohimbine can be used as an antagonist to control the duration of xylazine induced respiratory depression, although the degree of reversal was less than is clinically desirable.