Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
08:49

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

Published on: October 16, 2013

14.3K

Effect of vasopressin as a local anesthetic in mice

Keiko Katagiri1, Shuichi Hashimoto2, Katsuhisa Sunda3

  • 1Department of Dental Anesthesiology, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Nippon Dental University, 1-9-20 Fujimi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8159, Japan. iamkeiko@tky.ndu.ac.jp.

Odontology
|February 11, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Adding vasopressin to mepivacaine hydrochloride local anesthesia reduced blood flow and prolonged anesthetic effects in mice. This suggests vasopressin can enhance local anesthetic efficacy as a vasoconstrictor.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • Local anesthetics like mepivacaine hydrochloride are crucial for pain management.
  • Vasoconstrictors are often added to local anesthetics to prolong their duration and reduce systemic absorption.
  • The specific effects of vasopressin on mepivacaine's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of local mepivacaine hydrochloride and vasopressin administration on peripheral blood flow, tissue dynamics, and anesthetic effects in mice.
  • To determine the dose-dependent effects of vasopressin on mepivacaine localization and anesthetic duration.
  • To evaluate the potential of vasopressin as an adjunct to mepivacaine for enhanced local anesthesia.

Main Methods:

  • Mepivacaine hydrochloride was administered with varying concentrations of vasopressin (0.03, 0.3, 3.0 U/mL) or epinephrine (10 µg/mL) via the tail tissue in 226 male ICR mice.
  • Peripheral blood flow and tissue dynamics were measured using 3H-labeled mepivacaine hydrochloride.
  • Anesthetic effect was assessed by measuring compound nerve action potential (CNAP) after administration with 0.3 U/mL vasopressin.

Main Results:

  • Local administration of vasopressin at concentrations ≥ 0.03 U/mL significantly reduced local blood flow.
  • Vasopressin prolonged the retention of 3H-mepivacaine in tail tissue in a concentration-dependent manner.
  • The addition of 0.3 U/mL vasopressin demonstrably enhanced and prolonged the anesthetic effect of mepivacaine, as evidenced by CNAP measurements.

Conclusions:

  • Vasopressin, when co-administered with mepivacaine hydrochloride, acts as an effective vasoconstrictor.
  • The findings support the potential clinical application of vasopressin as an adjunct to local anesthetics to improve efficacy and duration.
  • This study provides valuable insights into optimizing local anesthetic strategies through the use of vasoconstrictors like vasopressin.
Keywords:
Blood vesselEpinephrineMepivacaineVasoconstrictionVasopressin

More Related Videos

Intracerebroventricular Treatment with Resiniferatoxin and Pain Tests in Mice06:04

Intracerebroventricular Treatment with Resiniferatoxin and Pain Tests in Mice

Published on: September 2, 2020

8.7K
Novel Approach for Simultaneous Recording of Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressure with Intravenous Infusion in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice.11:08

Novel Approach for Simultaneous Recording of Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressure with Intravenous Infusion in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice.

Published on: February 14, 2018

10.7K

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics01:13

Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics

The potency and duration of action of local anesthetics (LAs) are determined by their pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics describes how LAs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated from the body. When administered to the vascular tissues, LAs are quickly absorbed and enter the systemic circulation, reducing their localized effects. Adding vasoconstrictors such as epinephrine to LAs reduces their absorption into the systemic circulation, making them clinically effective. The...
1.1K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia01:16

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...
1.0K
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects01:12

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects

While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
706
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
1.2K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia01:30

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...
1.7K