title: Suitability of urethane anesthesia for physiopharmacological investigations in various systems. Part 1: General considerations.
abstract: The suitability of urethane anesthesia for physiopharmacological investigations is reviewed. Total dose administered and route of administration are recognized as factors having a great influence on both resting parameters and biological responses to drugs. A peculiar characteristic of urethane is represented by its ability to induce a surgical plane of anesthesia without affecting neurotransmission in various subcortical areas and the peripheral nervous system. This makes urethane a suitable general anesthetic for studying neural function in both central and peripheral nervous systems and accounts for the preservation of a number of reflex responses in urethane-anesthetized animals.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meli
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000378:metabolism; D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007700:Kinetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D014520:Urethane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D014520:Urethane; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine