Studies on the pesticide amitraz-induced bradycardia

In veterinary medicine amitraz has been used as an insecticide to eliminate mites, lice, and ticks in dogs, cats, goats, swine and cattle. We performed the experiment on bradycardiac effect of arnitraz in rabbits. Under anesthetized with urethane (1g/kg, 25% w/v, SC), the femoral artery was cannulated by a polyvinyl tube which was connected with pressure transducer for continuous measurement of heart rate. Amitraz (0.5-2.5mg/kg, IV) reduced the heart rate in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of yohimbine (2.0mg/kg) or atropine (2.0mg/kg and 4.0mg/kg) affected the response of amitraz but pretreatment of prazosin (0.5mg/kg) or propranolol (1.0mg/kg) did not. Moreover, the effect of amitraz was blocked by vagotomy. The result of our experiment suggest that amitraz may reduce the heart rate by increasing acetylcholine through activating vagal nerves and ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors could be involved in activating vagal nerves.