Combined Physico-chemical and Analgesic Effects of Electroacupuncture Plus Clonidine in Goats

The present study was aimed to investigate the combined physico-chemical and analgesic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) plus clonidine in goats. Thirty-six female goats were randomly allocated equally in six equal groups. The control group received 0.9% normal saline, 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were treated with 10, 15, and 20μg/kg of clonidine respectively, while 5th and 6th groups were treated with EA and EA plus 10μg/kg of clonidine, respectively. Pain threshold, cardio-respiratory effects, rectal temperature, hematological and biochemical variables were assessed in all groups. Clonidine at the dosage of 20μg/kg increased the pain threshold, and decreased cardio-respiratory rates and rectal temperature in goats. EA plus 10μg/kg of clonidine resulted higher pain threshold for 45-60 min than those goats treated with clonidine at 10 and 15μg/kg or EA alone but showed similar pain threshold with goats treated with 20μg/kg of clonidine. Goats treated with EA plus 10μg/kg clonidine showed moderately higher mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate up to 10-60min than those groups treated of clonidine. Moreover, a significantly lower serum glucose concentration was noted in EA plus 10μg/kg of clonidine treated goats at 15-60 min than those treated with clonidine alone. Creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, alanine/aspartate aminotransferase activities, and hematological variables for differently treated groups were insignificant. In conclusion, EA combined with a low dose of 10μg/kg of clonidine provided better analgesia in experimental animals.