Effects of Epinephrine Challenge and Splenectomy on Physiological Responses in Goats (Capra hircus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intravenous administration of epinephrine (2 mg) (118 ug//kg) on physiological responses of normal and splenectomized goats. Epinephrine increased respiration rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) in normal and splenectomized animals, the rise in HR was greater in splenectomized animals. The increase in packed cell volume (PCV) following administration of epinephrine was significant in normal animals; it remained steady in splenectomized group. Epinephrine increased the total leukocyte count (TLC) in both groups, the increase was more pronounced in non-splenectomized animals. Injection of epinephrine resulted in an increase, followed by a decrease in lymphocyte ratio and a significant increase in neutrophil ratio in splenectomized animals. The ratio of monocytes decreased significantly at 30 min in both groups. Serum total protein concentration decreased in normal and splenectomized animals; albumin concentration showed an increase in normal group, but did not change in splenectomized group. The plasma glucose level increased in both groups in response to epinephrine; the rise was greater in splenectomized animals. Serum Na concentration increased in response to epinephrine in normal and splenectomized animals. The results demonstrated that splenecomy may influence the physiological responses to epinephrine in goats.