This study examined the effect of sedation with xylazine on the brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) of cattle to determine whether sedation causes differences in waveform configuration, peak latencies, interpeak latencies, measurement time of the average count, and clinical signs. There were no significant differences between the sedation and no-sedation groups in peak latency of any stimulus intensity. In the sedation group, the baselines of waveforms were comparatively stabilized. Those in the no-sedation group were unstable, however, because the measurement was subject to influence by excessive muscle movement. The present findings suggest that when clinically measuring BAEP in cattle, it is useful to use a sedative to control excessive movement and that such sedation does not influence peak latency.
(Research Team for Production Diseases, TEL +81-29-838-7708)
Reference:
Arai (2008) Can. J. Vet. Res. 72(3) : 287-290.
