Effects of ketamine-xylazine anesthesia on blood levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in rabbits.
The effect of injection of an anesthetic dose of ketamine (70mg/kg) followed by xylazine (5mg/kg) on blood levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone was measured in female rabbits. The drug combination caused a measurable suppression of follicle stimulating hormone levels in both castrated does and during the postovulatory follicle stimulating hormone surge in mated rabbits. Blood luteinizing hormone was low in these two animal model systems and was not further suppressed by ketamine-xylazine injections. When mated rabbits were injected with the drugs immediately postcoitum, ovulation and the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone failed to occur in two of six treated animals. The results of these studies showed that ketamine-xylazine injections suppressed certain episodes of gonadotropin release in the female rabbit. However, the suppression was transitory and without apparent permanent effect.
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D003307:Copulation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D010060:Ovulation; D011817:Rabbits / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014991:Xylazine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013843:Thiazines; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone