Does Intravenous Ondansetron Affect the Intestinal Motility Pattern in Healthy Donkeys (Equus asinus)?
Authors: Farag Alshimaa M M, Ibrahim Hussam M M
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Ondansetron and Intestinal Motility in Donkeys Ondansetron, a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist commonly used as an antiemetic in human and veterinary medicine, may have broader therapeutic applications in equine practice beyond nausea control. Researchers at the study institution administered either intravenous ondansetron or saline placebo to thirty healthy donkeys in a randomised, crossover design, using transabdominal ultrasonography to measure contractility across five intestinal sites (duodenum, jejunum, caecum, and left and right colon) at baseline and multiple intervals up to four hours post-treatment. The drug produced significant reductions in duodenal, jejunal, and caecal contractions lasting 30–120 minutes, with even more pronounced suppression of left and right colon motility persisting for up to three hours. For practitioners managing spasmodic colic cases where excessive intestinal contractions contribute to pain and obstruction risk, ondansetron's ability to selectively dampen motility across both small and large intestinal segments—without the systemic side-effects associated with anticholinergics—warrants consideration as an adjunctive therapeutic option, particularly given the drug's established safety profile in donkeys and presumed applicability to horses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Ondansetron may be a useful pharmacological option for managing spasmodic colic in donkeys and potentially other equines by reducing excessive intestinal contractions
- •Effects are measurable within 15-30 minutes of IV administration and persist for up to 3-4 hours, making it suitable for acute colic episodes
- •This antiemetic drug demonstrates multi-segment intestinal effects (duodenum through colon), suggesting broad applicability rather than localized action
Key Findings
- •Ondansetron significantly decreased duodenal, jejunal, and cecal contractility at 30-120 minutes post-administration compared to placebo
- •Ondansetron significantly reduced left and right colon contractility at 30-180 minutes post-administration compared to placebo
- •Ondansetron acts as a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist to reduce both small and large intestinal motility in donkeys