title: The effect of brief halothane anesthesia during daily gavage on complications and body weight in rats.
abstract: We examined retrospectively the effects of brief halothane anesthesia during daily gavage administration of vehicle on gavage-related complications and body weight in ovariectomized female Wistar rats. The number of gavage-related deaths or animals requiring euthanasia due to gavage problems was dramatically reduced, but the occurrence of incomplete vehicle retention during gavage was increased appreciably in halothane-anesthetized animals. Halothane-anesthetized rats maintained daily body weight for a longer period than did awake animals. Our observations suggest that the use of brief inhalational anesthesia reduces gavage-associated death and euthanasia due to esophageal trauma and minimizes stress-related weight loss.
authors: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock 1408, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Murphy
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Smith
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Shaivitz
authors: M I
authors: MI
authors: Rossberg
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Hurn
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000662:veterinary*; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D006221:Halothane