Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
9672066 
Journal Article 
Differential effects of chloral hydrate- and ketamine/xylazine-induced anesthesia by the s.c. route 
Rodrigues, SF; de Oliveira, MA; Martins, JO; Sannomiya, P; de Cássia Tostes, R; Nigro, D; Carvalho, MH; Fortes, ZB 
2006 
1 
Life Sciences
ISSN: 0024-3205
EISSN: 1879-0631 
79 
17 
1630-1637 
English 
16828118 
The proper use of anesthetics in animal experimentation has been intensively studied. In this study we compared the use of chloral hydrate (500 mg kg(-1)) and ketamine (167 mg kg(-1)) combined with xylazine (33 mg kg(-1)) by the s.c. route in male Wistar rats. Chloral hydrate and ketamine/xylazine produced a depth of anesthesia and analgesia sufficient for surgical procedures. The decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was of a higher magnitude in rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate than with ketamine/xylazine. The initial microvascular diameter and blood flow velocity did not differ between both agents. On the other hand, ketamine/xylazine reduced the heart rate more intensively than chloral hydrate. Both anesthetics promoted an increase in arterial pCO(2) and a decrease in pH levels compared to unanesthetized animals. The blood glucose levels were of a higher magnitude in rats after ketamine/xylazine anesthesia than after chloral hydrate. In mesenteric arterioles studied in vivo, ketamine/xylazine anesthesia reduced the constrictive effect of noradrenaline and the dilator effect of bradykinin. However, both anesthetics did not modify the vasodilator effect promoted by acetylcholine. Based on our data, we concluded that both anesthetics alter metabolic and hemodynamic parameters, however the use of chloral hydrate in studies of microvascular reactivity in vivo is more appropriate since ketamine/xylazine reduces the responses to vasoactive agents and increases blood glucose levels.