桑树各入药部位的活性成分及降血糖功能研究进展

桑树(Morus L.)的入药部位包括桑叶、桑椹、桑枝与桑白皮等,现代药理学研究表明,这些桑树药用部位的提取物及其所富含的生物碱、黄酮、多糖等活性成分具有很好的降血糖功效。本文对桑树各药用部位提取物的降血糖作用、活性成分与降血糖机制研究成果以及桑树资源的降血糖药用开发利用现状进行综述,认为今后如果能进一步研究解决桑树降血糖活性物质在人体内的半衰期短的难题,将会推进以桑树资源开发高效降血糖制剂或保健品的临床应用进程。     

桑树主要活性物质的研究进展

桑树在中国有悠久的栽培历史,并且作为抗炎、抗病毒、降血糖、抗肿瘤等功效的传统中药材被广泛利用,桑树的这些药理功效由其含有的黄酮、生物碱等化学物质起作用.本文主要介绍桑树不同部位中所含有的主要活性物质研究进展,为桑树资源利用和开发提供参考.     

桑枝综合利用研究与开发进展

桑树由于富含蛋白质、氨基酸、黄酮类化合物、生物碱、有机酸、维生素等多种药食用活性物质,正受到越来越多人的关注。本文重点简述了桑枝生物体中功能性成分的研究及综合利用现状,为桑树资源进一步的研究和开发提供依据。     

桑树美白活性的研究进展

桑树提取物在皮肤美白、祛褐斑等美白护肤方面多有应用。本文针对两种皮肤美白机理，对桑树提取物及其活性物质皮肤美白活性研究进行综述，为后续的研究或开发利用提供参考。     

桑树类黄酮化合物研究现状及进展

桑树是重要的生态经济树种,药食兼用。类黄酮作为桑树中广泛分布的一类植物多酚类次生代谢产物,具有抗菌消炎、降血糖血脂、降血压、抗氧化和抗肿瘤等多种生物活性及药理作用。天然活性代谢产物的研究是近年来桑树功能基因组学研究的热点,也是实现桑树资源开发和综合利用的重要支柱。本文就桑树类黄酮化合物的结构特征、提取工艺、含量分布、药理作用及合成代谢的分子机制等方面的研究现状及进展进行综述,为桑树优质资源筛选、遗传改良和活性代谢产物的综合利用及开发提供依据。     

桑树抗青枯病机理研究初报

本试验选用栽植在青枯病病圃和无青枯病地上的三个抗青枯病品种:桑抗6号、桑树抗7号、抗青10号和一个青枯病敏感品种:塘10×伦109为材料。以丙酮抽提其根、茎混合干物,用圆滤纸片法测定其丙酮抽提浓缩液对青枯病菌的抗菌活性,研究抗病品种和非抗病品种的抗菌物质间的诱导差异。结果发现:健株的丙酮抽提浓缩液对青枯病菌无抗菌活性,病株的丙抽提浓缩液对青枯病菌有抗菌活性,且因品种不同其抗菌活性存在差异,其顺序为抗青10>桑抗7号>桑抗6号>塘10×伦109,表明:罹病桑树由于青枯病菌感染而诱导产生某些抗菌物质。薄板层析(TLC)分析表明:桑树品种不同,其抗菌物质的谱带有差异。用无土栽培悬浮菌液接种法测定四个桑品种抗青枯病的能力与其诱导产生的抗菌物质对青枯病病菌的抗菌活性大小完全一致,说明桑树抗青枯病的能力与其抗菌物质的抗菌活性有正相关倾向。     

几种桑树重要活性物质的研究现状

桑树的果、叶、枝和桑白皮均富含多糖、黄酮及生物碱等生物活性成分,具有降血糖、降血脂、抗病毒、杀菌消炎等多重功效。通过围绕桑树活性物质的药效机理、含量变化和检测工艺方面,重点介绍了近年来国内外的研究进展,旨在为桑树活性物质的深入研究和更好地开发利用提供参考依据。     

桑树基因组计划与桑树产业

桑树是一种重要的生态经济型林木,桑树资源的综合利用及桑树产业的开发正得到越来越多的重视。桑树的基础研究是实现桑树产业核心技术创新及产业发展的重要支撑。从桑树DNA分子标记、重要功能基因克隆和转基因研究3个方面概述了桑树分子生物学的研究现状,在此基础上阐明桑树基因组研究的意义,并以桑树蛋白质合成代谢、次生物质合成代谢以及优势性状的分子机制为例,阐述桑树功能基因组实施的关键问题,探讨桑树产业可持续发展的策略。     

桑树在生态治理方面的应用前景展望

桑树几千年来一直作为家蚕唯一的饲料被种植,其生态功能近些年才逐渐体现。在查阅国内外相关研究文献的基础上,从桑树的生态功能、适应环境能力,对大气污染的耐受性以及在生态治理方面的应用进展等方面进行了综述。提出了修复型桑树林模式、观赏型桑树林模式、生态桑树和经济桑树有机结合等相应的生态桑产业模式。以生态效益和经济效益有机结合的理念,构建多类型的桑树生态产业,使桑树产业呈现出生态效益最高化和经济效益最优化的和谐发展态势。     

新疆桑树药食应用与产品开发研究进展

介绍了桑树在新疆维吾尔族传统食用、医药中的应用情况;综述了围绕桑树这一“药食同源”的资源展开的新疆桑树的营养成分、多酚类（黄酮类）化合物、多糖类化合物、生物碱等活性物质,抗氧化性、抗炎、抑菌效果,降糖、降血脂效果的药用功效等的研究进展;介绍了新疆在桑叶类产品、桑椹类产品、桑枝、桑白皮类产品的开发研究进展情况.     

Dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous buprenorphine in cats

The dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous (IV) buprenorphine were evaluated in cats. Thermal (TT) and mechanical threshold (MT) devices were used for nociceptive stimulation. After baseline threshold recordings, buprenorphine was administered IV (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg; B1, B2 and B4, respectively) in a randomised, blinded and cross-over study. Data were analysed by ANOVA (P < 0.05) using 95% confidence intervals (CI). TT increased 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.2 ± 2.7 °C), 2, 3 and 4 h after B1; 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.1 ± 3.9 °C) and 2 h after B2, and 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.4 ± 3.3 °C), 2, 3, 6 and 8 h after B4. MT increased 15 and 45 min after B2 (260 ± 171 mmHg), and 30 (209 ± 116 mmHg) and 45 min and 1 and 2 h after B4. At 45 min, MT values were significantly higher after B2 compared to B1 (P < 0.05). With MT, B2 and B4 produced more antinociception and longer duration of action than B1, respectively. No dose response to thermal stimulation was detected.     

Effect of storage duration on egg quality,embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens

Effect of extended storage on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens was determined. Hatchable eggs (n = 288; weighing 53.2 ± 4.67 g) collected from a flock of FUNAAB-ɑ layer breeder hens aged 32 weeks were stored in egg tray with broad end up under 16 ± 1.5°C for either 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 d. Before incubation, eight eggs from each group were evaluated for internal and external quality traits. Remaining eggs were set in an incubator and transferred into hatcher on embryonic day 18. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Egg weight loss (EWL; p < .001), surface area (p < .001), yolk diameter (p < .001), inner and outer blastoderm diameters (p < .05) and dead in germ (DIG; p < .001) increased with storage duration while yolk height (p < .001), yolk index (p < .001), albumen weight (p < .05), albumen height (p < .05), albumen index (p < .01), Haugh's unit (HU; p < .05), fertility (p < .001), hatchability of set (HATCHS; p < .001) and fertile eggs (p < .05) decreased. Weight losses of 0, 1.2, 2.2, 3.4, 4.6 and 6.1% were recorded in egg stored for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days respectively. Eggs stored beyond 8 days exhibited higher DIG and lower HATCHS. Shell percentage in 4 days storage (11.4%) was lower (p < .05) than in 16 days storage (13.4%). Shell thickness was similar in eggs stored for 0 to 12 days, but 8 days storage (0.60 mm) had thinner (p < .01) shell than day 16 (0.71 mm) and day 20 (0.73 mm) storage. Internal quality unit (IQU) was higher (p < .05) in fresh eggs (180.4) than in 12 days (167.8) and 20 days (167.8) stored eggs. Extended storage of FUNAAB-ɑ eggs caused EWL, surface area shrinkage, lowered HU and IQU, loss of yolk and albumen quality, increased blastoderm diameters and DIG, and decreased egg fertility and HATCHS from day 8 forward. Storing FUNAAB-ɑ eggs beyond 8 days reduced quality parameters; therefore, other mitigating factors are recommended when storing beyond 8 days.     

Low‐density lipoproteins and milk serum proteins improve the quality of stallion sperm after vitrification in straws

Lipids and proteins can be used for sperm vitrification to preserve the integrity of sperm membranes or to increase the viscosity of the medium. This study evaluated the effect of low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) and milk serum proteins (Pronexcell) for stallion sperm vitrification. Hippex extender (Barex Biochemical Products, The Netherlands), plus 1% of bovine serum albumin and 100 mM of trehalose, was used as control for sperm vitrification. In experiment 1, different concentrations of LDL (L1 = 0.25, L2 = 0.5, L3 = 1%) and in experiment 2 of Pronexcell (P1 = 1, P2 = 5, P3 = 10%) were added to control extender. Vitrification was performed in 0.25‐ml straws directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. Total motility (TM, %) and progressive motility (PM, %) were analysed by CASA, and plasma membrane (IMS, %) and acrosome membrane integrity (AIS, %) were assessed under epifluorescence microscopy. Post‐warmed sperm parameters were compared between treatments by ANOVA. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. In both experiments, the minimum concentration of LDL and Pronexcell obtained significantly higher values (p < 0.01) than the control extender for TM (L1 = 52.95 ± 4.4; P1 = 58.99 ± 4.6; C = 30.88 ± 3.0), PM (L1 = 36.79 ± 5.5; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 19.20 ± 2.4), IMS (L1 = 68.88 ± 3.6; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 52.81 ± 2.6) and AIS (L1 = 45.88 ± 3.6; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 26.00 ± 2.1). No differences in sperm parameters were found among different concentrations of LDL or Pronexcell. In conclusion, the addition of 0.25% LDL and 1% Pronexcell to the vitrification extender is recommended to improve the quality of stallion sperm after vitrification.     

Comparison of the sedative effects of intranasal or intramuscular dexmedetomidine at low doses in healthy dogs: a randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine administered either intranasally or intramuscularly to healthy dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial.AnimalsA group of 16 client-owned healthy dogs.MethodsDogs were randomly allocated to one of two groups that were administered dexmedetomidine 5 μg kg^–1 via either the intranasal route (IN_Dex), through a mucosal atomization device in one nostril, or the intramuscular route (IM_Dex), into the epaxial muscles. Ease of intranasal administration, sedation score, onset of sedation, cardiopulmonary variables, mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and response to venous catheterization were recorded at 0 (baseline), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 minutes, following drug administration. Data were compared with the one-way anova, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test, where appropriate.ResultsGroups were not different for age, sex, weight, body condition score or temperament. Sedation scores, MNTs and response to intravenous catheter placement were not different when dexmedetomidine was administered by either route (p = 0.691; p = 0.630 and p = 0.435, respectively). Onset of sedation was not different between groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex reaching a score of 4.2 ± 0.9 and 5.5 ± 1.2 at 9 ± 5 and 8 ± 4 minutes, respectively (p = 0.467). The highest sedation score was achieved at 30 and 35 minutes and sedation scores were 9.7 ± 2.0 and 9.5 ± 2.3 in groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex, respectively (p = 0.799). Respiratory rate was higher in group IN_Dex (p = 0.014), while there were no differences between routes in heart rate (p = 0.275), systolic (p = 0.957), diastolic (p = 0.837) or mean arterial pressure (p = 0.921).Conclusions and clinical relevanceIntranasal administration of dexmedetomidine at 5 μg kg^–1 provides effective sedation in healthy dogs.     

Influence of dietary lysine level on whole-body protein turnover, plasma IGF-I, GH and insulin concentration in growing pigs

Four growing pigs (initial liveweight 25.9 ± 0.54 kg, final liveweight 43.0 ± 1.06 kg) were used to study the effect of dietary lysine level on nutrient digestibility, whole-body protein turnover, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH), insulin, glucose, and urea nitrogen (PUN). Four diets, containing 7.0 g (L1), 9.5 g (L2), 12.0 g (L3) and 14.5 g (L4) lysine per kg diet respectively, were formulated as experimental treatments. The animals and diets were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Nitrogen (N) metabolism and whole-body protein turnover were measured by classical method and single-dose ¹⁵N end-product method, respectively. The blood samples were taken at the end of each experimental period. Results showed that N retention (NR) and N biological value (NBV) were significantly increased from L1 to L4 (P < 0.05). However, differences in NR and NBV between L2, L3 and L4 were not significant (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference on dry matter (DM) digestibility, organic matter (OM) digestibility and N digestibility between different treatments (P > 0.05). Whole-body protein synthesis, protein degradation and protein accretion increased markedly from L1 to L2 (P < 0.05), but did not increase further from L2 to L4. Whole-body protein accretion (y, g/kg W^0.75/d) increased with dietary lysine (x, g/kg) in a quadratic manner: y = − 0.09x² + 2.12x − 5.14 (r² = 0.96, n = 4, P < 0.05).The results also showed that differences in plasma IGF-I, GH, glucose and PUN concentration between different treatments were not significant (P > 0.05). Plasma insulin concentration (y, μIU/ml) was increased with dietary lysine (x, g/kg) in a quadratic manner: y = 0.23x² − 4.10x + 32.25 (r² = 0.99, n = 4, P < 0.05), but it was not found that plasma insulin concentration was related to NR. A significant correlation was found between NR (y, g/d) and plasma IGF-I (x, ng/ml): y = − 3.1 × 10^− 3x² + 1.31x − 122.28 (r² = 0.99, n = 4, P < 0.05).It was concluded that dietary lysine level had a significant influence on NR and whole-body protein turnover but not on plasma IGF-I and GH concentration. Plasma IGF-I may be an important factor controlling N metabolism of growing pigs. Further research was needed to study the mechanism.     

A meta-analysis on effects of supplementing low-quality roughages with foliages from browses and tree fodders on intake and growth in sheep

A meta-analysis of data obtained from previous studies was conducted to understand the responses of foliage supplementation on intakes of basal DM (BDMI) and total DM (TDMI), and daily gain (ADG). Thirty-four published studies containing 223 treatments and 1127 sheep met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Major predictive variables considered were percentages of foliages in diet (SD), CP in foliages (PS), NDF in foliages (FS), NDF in forages (FB), CP in basal roughages (PB), CP in diet (PD) and foliage CP intake (SPI). TDMI (g/d) increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing PS, FS, SPI (R² = 0.66), PB, SD (R² = 0.58) and PD (R² = 0.73). The maximal response of TDMI were 778 g/d at 42% of SD, 894 g/d at 19.8% PD, 893 g/d at 148 g/d SPI and 749 g/d at 26.4% PS (P < 0.001; R² = 0.58, 0.73, 0.66, and 0.37, respectively). BDMI increased quadratically with increasing SD, PD and PB, but decreased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing PS (P < 0.001; R² = 0.07). The breakpoint of BDMI was 570 g/d at 6.58% of PD in the diet (P < 0.001, R² = 0.28). Overall, BDMI responded at very low level of SD in the diet, peaking at 7.6% SD with BDMI of 572 g/d (P < 0.001, R² = 0.72). However, when PB was less than 3%, the maximal BDMI was 489 g/d at foliage levels of 25.7%. When PB was between 3 and 6%, maximal BDMI was at 13% of foliage in the diet and the basal forage intake of 597 g/d; whereas, BDMI decreased linearly with SD when PB was greater than 6%. BDMI (g/d) decreased quadratically when foliage CP percentages were lesser than 10%, but increased quadratically with PS when foliage CP percentages were greater than 10%. ADG responded positively and quadratically to PS, SPI, SD, PD and TDMI (g/d) and the relationships were moderate to high. However, ADG (g/d) decreased linearly with increasing FS (P < 0.001, R² = 0.35). The maximal ADG was 42 g/d at 43% of SD, 41 g/d at 9.4% PD, 42 g/d at 53 g/d SPI, 35 g/d at 25% PS and 46 g/d at TDMI of 889 g/d (P < 0.001; R² = 0.74, 0.84, 0.74, 0.29 and 0.74, respectively). It is concluded that the interactions of quality and quantity of foliage supplements and quality of basal forages affect intakes of basal and total DM, and growth in sheep.     

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of oral cefuroxime axetil in dogs

Cefuroxime axetil pharmacokinetic profile was investigated in 12 Beagle dogs after single intravenous and oral administration of tablets or suspension at a dose of 20 mg/kg, under both fasting and fed conditions. A three-period, three-treatment crossover study (IV, PO under fasting and fed condition) was applied. Blood samples were withdrawn at predetermined times over a 12-hr period. Cefuroxime plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Data were analyzed by compartmental analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between formulations and feeding conditions on PK parameters. Independently of the feeding condition, absorption of cefuroxime axetil after tablet administration was low and erratic. The drug has been quantified in plasma in 3 out of 6 and 5 out of 6 dogs in the fasted and fed groups. For this formulation, the bioavailability (F), peak plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of cefuroxime axetil were significantly enhanced (p < .05) by the concomitant ingestion of food (32.97 ± 13.47–14.08 ± 7.79%, 6.30 ± 2.62–2.74 ± 0.66 µg/ml, and 15.75 ± 3.98–7.82 ± 2.76 µg.hr/ml for F, C_max, and AUC in fed and fasted dogs, respectively), while for cefuroxime axetil suspension, feeding conditions affected only the rate of absorption, as reflected by the significantly shorter absorption half-life (T_½(a)) and time to peak concentration (T_max) (0.55 ± 0.27–1.15 ± 0.19 hr and 1.21 ± 0.22–1.70 ± 0.30 for T_½(a) and T_max in fed and fasted dogs, respectively). For cefuroxime axetil tablets, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was <2 hr in fasted and ≈4 hr in fed animals, and for cefuroxime axetil suspension, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was ≈5 hr and for T >MIC (≤4 µg/ml) was ≈2.5 hr for fasted and fed dogs, respectively. Cefuroxime axetil as a suspension formulation seems to be a better option than tablets. However, its short permanence in plasma could reduce its clinical usefulness in dogs.     

Factors affecting dystocia and offspring vigour in different sheep genotypes

Birth difficulty and poor lamb vigour are significant causes of perinatal lamb mortality. In this study we investigated whether sheep breeds differing in appearance, muscularity and selection history also had differences in dystocia and lamb vigour, and considered some of the factors that may contribute to the variation in these traits. Data were collected at birth from a total of 3252 lambs of two terminal sire breeds selected for lean growth (Suffolk [S], n = 500 and Texel [T], n = 1207), from a Hill breed (Scottish Blackface [B], n = 610), which has been mainly selected for hardiness, and a crossbred (Mule × T [M], n = 935) representing a maternal line. For each lamb the degree of assistance at delivery, lamb presentation, amount of assistance to achieve successful sucking, sex, litter size and birth weight were recorded. T lambs required the most, and B and M lambs the least assistance at birth, S lambs were intermediate (% lambs assisted: T = 55.7, S = 30.7, B = 22.7, M = 24.9, P < 0.001). T and S lambs were equally likely to be malpresented at birth (29% of births) and more likely to be malpresented than B or M lambs (20%; P < 0.001). In T and S breeds lambs requiring veterinary assistance at delivery were mainly heavy and singleton lambs, whereas in B and M breeds these were exclusively low birth weight lambs in multiple litters. Although heavier lambs needed greater birth assistance, T lambs were lighter than S and M lambs, but heavier than B lambs (birth weight (kg): S = 4.66, M = 4.56, T = 4.32, B = 3.67, P < 0.001). S lambs were more likely to require assistance with sucking than other breeds, and T lambs also required more assistance than B or M lambs (% lambs assisted to suck: S = 56.0, T = 31.6, M = 19.8, B = 18.4, P < 0.001). Heavier lambs were more likely to suck unaided than lighter lambs (P < 0.001). The data suggest that the two terminal sire breeds, selected narrowly for greater productivity (muscle growth and conformation), are more likely to experience birth difficulty and poorer lamb vigour than the breed selected for hardiness, or the cross breed. Whether these effects arise as a consequence of genetic selection (e.g. for specific lamb conformation), or as a result of management practices to achieve selection goals (e.g. increased intervention at lambing) is unknown. Specific actions to improve birth difficulty and lamb vigour, such as including these traits in the selection index, would be beneficial in improving the welfare of ewes and lambs of the terminal sire breeds.     

Efficacy of a mephentermine‐based product as a vasopressor and a cardiac performance enhancer when given intramuscularly to cattle

The goal of this study was to confirm the vasopressor and cardiac effects of POTENAY^® INJETÁVEL (POT), a mephentermine‐based product, given to cattle with induced vascular/cardiac depression. Ten healthy Holstein cattle (206 ± 13 kg) followed a randomized‐complete‐block design (RCBD) utilizing crossover study design. Each animal randomly received (1 ml/25 kg, IM) of either POT (n = 10) or volume‐matched placebo control (0.9%NaCl, CP, n = 10). A subset of animals (n = 5) received POT first (day 0) while the remaining (n = 5) received CP; after a six‐day washout period, cattle received the opposite compound. Animals were anesthetized and catheterized for systemic/left ventricular hemodynamic monitoring. Myocardial dysfunction/hypotension was induced by increasing the end‐tidal isoflurane concentration until arterial blood pressure was 20% lower than at baseline and remained stable. Once the animal was determined to be hypotensive and hemodynamically stable, steady‐state hypotensive baseline data (BL2) were acquired, and treatment with either POT or CP was given. Data were acquired post‐treatment at every 15 min for 90 min. POT improved cardiac output (+68 L/min, ±14%, p < 0.05), MAP (+14 mmHg, ±4%, p < 0.05), HR (+22 bpm, ±8%, p < 0.05), and peak rates of ventricular pressure change during both systole (dP/dt_max: +37 mmHg/s ±13%, p < 0.05) and diastole (dP/dt_min: +31 mmHg/s, ±7%, p < 0.05). No improvements were noted following placebo‐control administration. Results indicate that POT improves cardiac performance and systemic hemodynamics in cattle with induced cardiovascular depression when given as single intramuscular injection.     

Cardiopulmonary and sedative effects of intravenous or epidural methadone in conscious dogs

Cardiopulmonary and sedative effects of intravenous or epidural methadone were compared. Six beagles were randomly assigned to group MIV (methadone 0.5 mg/kg IV + NaCl 0.9% epidurally) or MEP (methadone 0.5 mg/kg epidurally + NaCl 0.9% IV). Cardiopulmonary, blood gas and sedation were assessed at time (T) 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 min after drug administration. Compared to T0, heart rate decreased at T15–T120 in MIV (p < .001) and T15–T240 in MEP (p < .05); mean arterial pressure was reduced at T15–T60 in MEP (p < .01); respiratory rate was higher at T15 and T30 in both groups (p < .05); pH was lower at T15–T120 in MIV (p < .01) and T15, T30 and T120 in MEP (p < .05); PaCO₂ was higher at T15–T60 in MIV (p < .01) and T15, T30 and T120 in MEP (p < .01); sedation scores were higher at T15 and T30 in MIV and T15–T60 in MEP (p < .05). At T120 and T240, sedation score was higher in group MEP compared with group MIV (p < .01) In conclusion, cardiopulmonary and sedative effects of identical methadone doses are similar when administered IV or epidurally to conscious healthy dogs.