Effect of Exercise in Sheep on the Absorption of Intramuscular Atropine Sulfate

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Abstract
In normal female sheep, we investigated effects of exercise on the absorption of atropine sulfate (0.02 mg/kg) given intramuscularly. The exercise regime consisted of treadmill running (20 min at 3–4 mph at 0° grade) starting immediately after intramuscular atropine injection into the biceps femoris. Six normal female sheep received intramuscular atropine and 7–14 days later an identical intramuscular dose of atropine with exercise. Serum levels of atropine measured by radioimmunoassay were monitored over a 6-hour period. The time to peak concentration was significantly less with exercise than without, 2.9 ± 2.1 and 13.7 ± 5.4 min, respectively (p < 0.005). In addition, peak serum atropine concentrations tended to be higher, 9.7 ± 1.3 ng/ml with exercise versus 7.1 ± 2.9 ng/ml without exercise; however, the difference did not attain statistical significance (p < 0.08). This study demonstrates that exercise increases the early absorption of intramuscularly administered atropine sulfate.