The authors report dose-response relationships for atropine in their rat
model of human delirium. In this model, anticholinergic mechanisms are an
important cause and may be a neurochemical final common pathway for diverse
etiologies of delirium. Four intravenous (i.v.) bolus doses of atropine
(27.5, 13.5, 6.875, and 3.44 mg/kg) were studied along with the originally
reported dose of 55 mg/kg and saline control. Subsequent iv infusions were
also proportionately reduced. EEG frequency and amplitude, maze
performance, and subjective behavioral descriptions were taken over
320-minute study periods. Repeated-measures analysis of variance compared
data between groups, and effect sizes were calculated. Dosages to be used
in future studies are discussed.Abstract Teaser