Clinical efficacy of buprenorphine after oral dosing in rats undergoing major surgery

Serum corticosterone, serum buprenorphine, body weight change, consumption of food and water and behaviour-based pain assessment were measured in catheterised and non-catheterised male Wistar rats undergoing myocardial infarct (MI) surgery under general anaesthesia following buprenorphine dosing by subcutaneous (Bup-SC, 0.05 mg/kg) and oral (Bup-O, 0.4 mg/kg) routes. Buprenorphine was dosed subcutaneously at half an hour before and 8, 16 and 24 hours after surgery (Bup-SC), orally at one hour before surgery (Bup-O1) or at one hour before and 12 hours after surgery (Bup-O2) in catheterised rats and at one hour before and 24 hours after surgery (Bup-O24) in non-catheterised rats. Serum corticosterone, body weight changes and food and water consumption were not significantly different between treatments in catheterised rats. Bup-SC resulted in rapidly decreasing serum concentrations below the clinically effective concentrations (1 ng/mL) already at two hours after the first dose. Bup-O provided significantly higher and slowly decreasing serum concentrations, at or above clinically effective concentrations, for 24 hours (Bup-O1) and 42 hours (Bup-O2) after surgery. In non-catheterised rats, body weight development and food consumption were significantly higher in Bup-O24 rats compared to Bup-SC rats. The results indicate that a SC buprenorphine dose of 0.05 mg/kg every eight hours provides long periods of serum concentrations below clinically effective levels, and that a higher dose and/or more frequent dosage are required to provide stable serum concentrations at or above clinically effective levels. A single oral buprenorphine dose of 0.4 mg/kg provides clinically effective and stable serum concentrations for 24 hours in rats after MI surgery.