RESEARCH ARTICLE COMPARISION OF POTENCY OF PANCURONIUM, VECURONIUM AND ATRACURIUM AGAINST THE ACETYLCHOLINE INDUCED CONTRACTION ON ISOLATED FROG RECTUS ABDOMINIS MUSCLE

Objective: To compare potency of pancuronium , vecuronium and atracurium against the acetylcholine induced contraction on isolated rectus abdominis muscle of frog. Material and Methods : In the present study the neuromuscular blocking effect of pancuronium, vecuronium and atracurium was compared by using acetylcholine as standard on the height of frog rectus abdominus muscle contraction. Results : Pancuronium , vecuronium and atracurium in the doses of 0.06 mg/lit, 0.12 mg/lit, 0.25 mg/lit produced dose dependent reduction in the amplitude of contraction of acetylcholine (32µg, 64 µg , 128 µg, 256µg, 512µg). Conclusion : Among the three neuromuscular blocking agents pancuronium appears equally potent to vecuronium as there is no statistically significant difference in half maximal inhibitory (IC50 ) values as compared to half maximal inhibitory (IC50) concentration value of atracurium.