Kiefer D, Müller-Wirtz LM, Maurer F, Hüppe T, Mathes AM, Volk T, Kreuer S, Fink T. Intravenous propofol, ketamine (ketofol) and rocuronium after sevoflurane induction provides long lasting anesthesia in ventilated rats.
Exp Anim 2021;
71:231-239. [PMID:
34880161 PMCID:
PMC9130037 DOI:
10.1538/expanim.21-0147]
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Abstract
Rats are commonly used animals for laboratory experiments and many experiments require general anesthesia. However, the lack of published and reproducible intravenous anesthesia protocols
for rats results in unnecessary animal use to establish new anesthesia techniques across institutions. We therefore developed an anesthesia protocol with propofol, ketamine, and rocuronium
for mechanically ventilated rats, and evaluated vital parameters and plasma concentrations. 15 male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent inhalation induction with sevoflurane and tracheal, venous
and arterial cannulation. After established venous access, sevoflurane was substituted by propofol and ketamine (ketofol). Rocuronium was added under mechanical ventilation for 7 h. Drug
dosages were stepwise reduced to prevent accumulation. All animals survived the observation period and showed adequate depth of anesthesia. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate remained
within normal ranges. Median propofol plasma concentrations remained stable: 1, 4, 7 h: 2.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 1.8–2.2), 2.1 (1.8–2.2), 1.8 (1.6–2.1) µg/ml, whereas
median ketamine concentrations slightly differed after 7 h compared to 1 h: 1, 4, 7 h: 3.7 (IQR: 3.5–4.5), 3.8 (3.3–4.1), 3.8 (3.0–4.1) µg/ml. Median rocuronium plasma
concentrations were lower after 4 and 7 h compared to 1 h: 1, 4, 7 h: 3.9 (IQR: 3.5–4.9), 3.2 (2.7–3.3), 3.0 (2.4–3.4) µg/ml. Our anesthesia protocol provides stable and
reliable anesthesia in mechanically ventilated rats for several hours.
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