Xylazine (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered to sheep breathing room air (group X) or
oxygen (group XO).
Xylazine induced a rise in serum
glucose concentration which, following a sharp increase in the first 30 minutes, remained at similar high levels (about 165% of the pre-injection value) for another 2.5 hours. Arterial PCO2 was slightly increased and reached a significant level at 5 and 15 minutes following
xylazine injection in group X. In group XO, at all sampling times after the injection, PaCO2 showed a similar pattern of increase, although the effect was not significant. Arterial PO2 was decreased significantly for at least 60 minutes.
Hypoxia by itself can induce hyperglycaemia, but its prevention by administering
oxygen did not alter the hyperglycaemic effect of
xylazine. It was concluded that the
hypoxia following administration of
xylazine was not severe enough to produce a rise in
catecholamine concentrations eliciting hyperglycaemia.