Fig. 8

Atipamezole and caffeine effectively reversed high dose (40 µg/kg) dexmedetomidine sedation. A higher dose of atipamezole (20 µg) with caffeine (25 mg/ kg) dramatically accelerated emergence from the deep sedation produced by this high dose of dexmedetomidine. Two distinct groups of 4 rats were exposed to a sedation session using bolus injections of dexmedetomidine. One group received an injection of saline while the other group received atipamezole (20 µg/kg) with caffeine (25 mg/kg). Rats were placed on their backs in a waking box, and the time for the rats to recover their righting reflex was recorded. This time is plotted in the figure as the emergence time. Emergence in saline injected rats was significantly different than in rats injected with atipamezole & caffeine (p < 0.0001; n = 4, unpaired t-test). RORR Times (in seconds): Saline (control): 4857, 7067, 6420, 5580, Atipamezole (20 µg/kg) with Caffeine (25 mg/kg): 42, 39, 58, 47