Effect of oral OPC-28326, a selective femoral arterial vasodilator, on hindlimb subcutaneous tissue temperature in conscious dogs under buprenorphine sedation.

In dogs, rectal temperature was decreased to about 36 degrees C at 2 to 2.5 h after sedation with buprenorphine (0.3 mg/body, i.m.), and hindlimb subcutaneous tissue temperature (T(SC)) in the thigh decreased in a similar manner. T(SC) in the dorsum of the foot showed a greater decrease than that in the thigh. OPC-28326 (4-(N-methyl-2-phenylethylamino)-1-(3,5-dimethyl-4-propionyl-aminobenzoyl) piperidine hydrochloride monohydrate) at doses of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg, p.o. inhibited the buprenorphine-induced decrease in T(SC) in the dorsum dose-dependently, but had little effect on that in the thigh or rectal temperature. In conclusion, T(SC) in the extremities were more sensitive to core temperature and peripheral circulation.