The Effects of Atropine and Glycopyrrolate on Heart Rates in Conscious Mature Goats

The effects of intravenously administered atropine (0.2 mg/kg) and glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg) on heart rate were studied in 10 conscious mature goats. In a drug cross-over fashion, either atropine, glycopyrrolate, or 0.9% saline solution was administered using the same volume (0.05 mL/kg). Atropine and glycopyrrolate caused a significant increase in heart rate (P < .05), whereas saline solution (0.09%) did not. The mean percent changes in heart rate from baseline were similar for atropine and glycopyrrolate up to 14 minutes after administration. Thereafter, glycopyrrolate had a significantly greater mean change in heart rate than atropine, ie, up to 29 minutes (P < .05). Within the atropine group, the mean percentage changes in heart rate became significantly lower compared with the initial increase (1 minute) starting at 11 minutes. For the glycopyrrolate group, the mean percent changes became significantly lower starting at 27 minutes. Glycopyrrolate and atropine had a mean percentage change in heart rate of greater than 1.0%, up to 31 and 22 minutes, respectively. At the doses used, glycopyrrolate had longer duration of action than atropine but the magnitude of increase was similar.