Sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of intranasal atomized alfaxalone in Japanese White rabbits.

To investigate the sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of intranasal atomization (INA) of alfaxalone using a mucosal atomization device in Japanese White rabbits. Randomized, prospective, crossover study. A total of eight healthy female rabbits, weighing 3.6-4.3 kg and aged 12-24 months. Each rabbit was randomly assigned to four INA treatments administered 7 days apart: Control treatment, 0.15 mL 0.9% saline in both nostrils; treatment INA0.3, 0.15 mL 4% alfaxalone in both nostrils; treatment INA0.6, 0.3 mL 4% alfaxalone in both nostrils; treatment INA0.9, 0.3 mL 4% alfaxalone in left, then right, then left nostril. Sedation was scored 0-13 using a composite measure scoring system for rabbits. Simultaneously, pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (f No rabbit was sedated in treatments Control and INA0.3. All rabbits in treatment INA0.9 developed loss of righting reflex for 15 (10-20) minutes [median (25th-75th percentile)]. Sedation score significantly increased from 5 to 30 minutes in treatments INA0.6 and INA0.9 with maximum scores of 2 (1-4) and 9 (9-9), respectively. f INA alfaxalone resulted in dose-dependent sedation and respiratory depression in Japanese White rabbits to values considered not clinically relevant. Further investigation of INA alfaxalone in combination with other drugs is warranted.

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