A comparison of pentobarbital, fentanyl-droperidol, ketamine-xylazine and ketamine-diazepam anesthesia in adult male rats.
Proper use of anesthetics is of paramount importance for humane animal care. Current research trends show a greater reliance on rats for laboratory investigations. This study compared several dosages for four different drugs, (pentobarbital, fentanyl-droperidol, ketamine-xylazine and ketamine-diazepam) for use in the laboratory rat. Each drug was evaluated in respect to its onset, duration of effect, recovery, adverse effects and mortality. A quantitative assessment of the depth of anesthesia also was obtained for all dosages of each drug. Results showed that all tested dosages of pentobarbital, ketamine-xylazine and ketamine-diazepam were suitable anesthetics for use in the laboratory rat. Low dosages of fentanyl-droperidol (Innovar-Vet), however, appeared to produce a state known as neuroleptanalgesia as opposed to anesthesia seen with the other agents.
Wixson
S K
SK
Department of Comparative Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
White
W J
WJ
Hughes
H C
HC
Lang
C M
CM
Marshall
W K
WK
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary*; D000777:Anesthetics; D000818:Animals; D003975:Diazepam; D004329:Droperidol; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005283:Fentanyl; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000502:physiology*; D014991:Xylazine
D000777:Anesthetics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine; C001451:Innovar; D010424:Pentobarbital; D004329:Droperidol; D003975:Diazepam; D005283:Fentanyl