title: Effects of using the analgesic tramadol in mice undergoing embryo transfer surgery.
abstract: Embryo transfer is a surgical technique that is widely used in reproductive biotechnology. Despite the ethical obligation to relieve animals' post-operative pain, analgesia is not routinely provided after embryo transfer surgery because it has been suggested that analgesics may be detrimental to embryo survival. Studies suggest, however, that the potential for adverse effects varies depending on the type of analgesic used and the timing of its administration. The authors carried out a study to determine whether pre-operatively administered tramadol, a synthetic analogue of codeine, influenced birth rate, litter survival or the post-operative body weights of surrogate dams. Compared with controls that were not given any analgesic, surrogate dams given tramadol had similar birth rates and similar body weights at all time points. The tramadol-treated surrogate dams showed a statistically significant increase in the number of offspring that survived to weaning. The authors conclude that pre-operatively administered tramadol does not harm the success rate of embryo transfer surgery and even may improve litter survival.
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory Animal Facilities, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. [2] Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Elda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koutroli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Facilities, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alexakos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Facilities, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Zacharias
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kakazanis
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory Animal Facilities, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. [2] Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Symeon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Facilities, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balafas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voyiatzaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Facilities, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kostomitsopoulos
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014147:Tramadol