Effects of vatinoxan in rats sedated with a combination of medetomidine, midazolam and fentanyl.

Background: Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists (α-agonists) are widely used in animals as sedatives and for pre-anaesthetic medication. Medetomidine has often been given subcutaneously (SC) to rats, although its absorption rate is slow and the individual variation in serum drug concentrations is high via this route. In addition, α-agonists have various effects on metabolic and endocrine functions such as hypoinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia and diuresis.