Anesthesia in the rabbit using a combination of ketamine and promazine

An anesthetic combination of ketamine and promazine (75mg/kg by ketamine content) was tested in 15 male and 15 female adult New Zealand white rabbits. The mean induction time was 9 minutes for both the male and female. Mean duration for anesthesia was 61 minutes for the male and 49 minutes for the female. The mean recovery time was 22 minutes for the male and 33 minutes for the female. The drug combination provided effective anesthesia for a period of 50--60 minutes after a single intramuscular injection.     

A comparison of ketamine/xylazine and ketamine/xylazine/acepromazine anesthesia in the rabbit

Parenteral anesthetic combinations such as ketamine and xylazine have become the agents of choice for anesthesia in the rabbit, because they are effective, easily administered and inexpensive. A number of recent reports have recommended including acepromazine in this combination, but a critical evaluation of this combination in the rabbit has not been reported. Five adult New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized intramuscularly with ketamine (35 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg) with or without acepromazine (0.75 mg/kg). The study was conducted in a double blind fashion, where each rabbit was administered both combinations at a minimum of 7 day intervals. Physiologic parameters were evaluated including heart rate, respiratory rate, central arterial blood pressure, pedal, palpebral and postural reflex activity. The duration of general anesthesia, estimated by the time elapsed between the loss and return of the palpebral reflex, was greater (means = 99 +/- 20 minutes) when acepromazine was employed in the combination compared to (means = 77 +/- 5 minutes) when ketamine/xylazine were used alone. Mean central arterial blood pressure reached a lower level when acepromazine was utilized (means = 46 +/- 8 mm/Hg) than when it was not (means = 57 +/- 12 mm/Hg.). The addition of acepromazine in a ketamine/xylazine combination resulted in a 28% longer period of anesthesia, a 19% lower mean central arterial blood pressure and a 32% longer recovery of postural reflexes. The ketamine/xylazine/acepromazine combination is a useful regimen for normovolemic animals when anesthetic duration greater than that produced by ketamine/xylazine alone is required.     

Acepromazine-ketamine anesthesia in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Six adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were anesthetized using a combination of acepromazine maleate and ketamine hydrochloride administered by intramuscular injection. This combination produced a smooth induction to anesthesia requiring less than 5 minutes. The average duration of anesthesia was slightly less than 1 hour and was safely prolonged with additional doses of ketamine. The depth of anesthesia was sufficient for minor surgical procedures and for precise radiological studies. No deleterious side effects were noted, and animals recovered completely in a short time.     

丙泊酚复合麻醉在实验犬外科手术中的效果观察

目的丙泊酚复合麻醉应用于实验犬外科手术,进行效果评价。方法成年健康杂种犬13只,雌雄不限。术前30 min肌内注射阿托品0.5 mg,吗啡10 mg,进行气管插管,静脉注射氯胺酮50 mg,静脉注射丙泊酚首次剂量5 mg/kg体重,维持剂量1 mg/kg。结果丙泊酚复合麻醉,平均麻醉起效时间40 s,首次剂量平均维持17.3min,重复给药平均维持13.6 min,无死亡。丙泊酚有较强的麻醉效果,诱导时间短,起效快,恢复快速平稳,而且无副作用。结论丙泊酚复合麻醉适合于犬的外科手术实验,是一种较为理想的麻醉方法。     

The effects of prolonged ketamine-xylazine intravenous infusion on arterial blood pH, blood gases, mean arterial blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature and reflexes in the rabbit

The prolonged and safe maintenance of general anesthesia in rabbits with commonly used injectable agents is difficult. Protracted, stable anesthesia with short recovery time has been described in humans using continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine with or without sedatives, muscle relaxants and paralytics. This study evaluated the anesthetic plane achieved and respiratory and cardiovascular effects produced with a ketamine-xylazine intravenous infusion in New Zealand White rabbits. Ten female rabbits were anesthetized with intramuscularly administered ketamine hydrochloride (35 mg/kg) and xylazine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg) after the preanesthetic, baseline measurements of arterial blood pO2, pCO2 and pH and heart and respiratory rates were recorded. The above parameters as well as mean arterial blood pressure, righting, palpebral, pedal, and jaw reflexes were monitored ten minutes after the intramuscularly administered dosage and throughout 4 hours of infusion. Results showed moderate hypotension (21.2% deviation from normal, p less than 0.008) and profound hypoxemia (45% deviation from baseline, p less than 0.001) 10 minutes after the intramuscularly administered induction dosage. Then, the 4 hour infusion of ketamine (1 mg/minute) and xylazine (0.1 mg/minute) was started. Hypotension progressed (49.1% deviation from normal, p less than 0.008), but hypoxemia and hypercarbemia gradually improved with no resultant change (p greater than 0.1) in arterial pH. There was no significant change (p greater than 0.1) in respiratory rate but varying qualities of respiration were observed. Both mean arterial pO2 and pCO2 values returned to baseline within 20 minutes after completion of infusion. Heart rate and rectal temperature remained stable during the trial. The righting reflex was abolished in all rabbits throughout the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Failure of yohimbine to reverse ketamine anesthesia in rhesus monkeys

Yohimbine hydrochloride has been used experimentally to reverse the anesthetic effects of ketamine and xylazine in dogs, cats, cattle and mule deer, but there are no reports of its use in nonhuman primates. Nine adult female rhesus monkeys were given an intravenous dose of either 0.5 mg/kg yohimbine hydrochloride or saline 10 minutes after intramuscular administration of 10 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride. There was no difference in the duration of anesthesia between the yohimbine and saline treatments, suggesting yohimbine is not effective in the rhesus monkey.     

A technique for saliva collection in dogs

A plastic two-chambered vacuum-collection device was developed to collect saliva produced by the parotid gland in dogs. Repeated application of the device on the parotid gland papilla was atraumatic. Dogs were restrained during the collection period with a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine hydrochloride and diazepam in lactated Ringer's solution. The anesthetic regime did not interfere with salivation.     

Reversal of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in the rabbit with yohimbine

Ketamine and xylazine used in combination have been shown to be effective, easily administered, cost efficient agents for surgical anesthesia in the rabbit. The effect of xylazine on the central nervous system has been shown to be mediated through alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Yohimbine, an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist has been shown to reverse xylazine induced depression and partially antagonize ketamine in other species. We evaluated the antagonistic effect of yohimbine on ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in the rabbit. Six New Zealand White rabbits were anesthetized with intramuscular ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) to establish baseline parameters including respiratory rate, heart rate, and palpebral, pedal and postural reflex activity. Fourteen days later each rabbit was subjected to the same anesthetic regimen followed 30 minutes later by the intravenous administration of yohimbine (0.2 mg/kg). The duration of anesthesia estimated by the time elapsed between the loss and return of the palpebral reflex was reduced in the yohimbine treated trial (means = 29.7 +/- 1.9 minutes) compared to the control trial (means = 67.0 +/- 13.5 minutes). The palpebral reflex returned within 5 minutes following yohimbine treatment. Our results indicated that yohimbine is an effective antagonist of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in the rabbit. Yohimbine decreases anesthetic duration after intravenous administration and also may aid in the control of undesirable anesthetic effects and overdosage.     

Comparison of ketmine with the combination of ketamine and xylazine for effective anesthesia in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

The addition of xylazine to ketamine hydrochloride was found to enhance analgesia, anesthesia, and muscle relaxation in rhesus monkeys. At 0.10 ml/kg body weight, this combination provided adequate anesthesia for such procedures as cisternal puncture, lumbar spinal puncture, insertion of urinary catheters, finger amputations, and tattooing. The combination of ketamine and xylazine did depress the heart rate, respiration rate, and body temperature more than the administration of ketamine alone. The period of anesthesia also was prolonged, but the monkeys regained consciousness more rapidly at the end of the anesthetic period.     

Effect of caffeine sodium benzoate, ketamine hydrochloride, and yohimbine hydrochloride on xylazine hydrochloride-induced anorexia in white-tailed deer

Fifteen male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were administered xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg BW i.m.), xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg i.m.) followed by caffeine sodium benzoate (10 mg/kg i.m.), xylazine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg i.m.) and ketamine hydrochloride (4.5 mg/kg i.m.), and xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg i.m.) followed by yohimbine hydrochloride (0.125 mg/kg i.m.), in a Latin Square design. Mean dry matter intake (DMI) for 4 days pre-treatment was compared to each of 4 days post-treatment. A significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in DMI was found only on the first day following treatment for each of the four drug combinations. The percent decreases in DMI on the first 24-hr period after immobilization were: xylazine hydrochloride 47%, xylazine hydrochloride/caffeine sodium benzoate 36%, xylazine hydrochloride/yohimbine hydrochloride 36%, and xylazine hydrochloride/ketamine hydrochloride 31%. The xylazine hydrochloride/ketamine hydrochloride combination was found to be insufficient to adequately sedate the deer. The use of caffeine or yohimbine hydrochloride is recommended to reduce recumbency time, but offers no improvement in xylazine hydrochloride-induced anorexia.     

Anesthesia in the mouse using a combination of ketamine and promazine

An anesthetic combination of ketamine and promazine was tested in 25 male and 25 female mice of each of two strains. The mean induction time was 5 minutes for the C57BL/6We mouse and 8 minutes for the DBA/2We mouse. No sex differences were observed. The mean duration time was 45 minutes for the C57BL/6We male, 53 minutes for the C57BL/TWe female, 29 minutes for the DBA/2We male, and 35 minutes for the DBA/2We female. The mean recovery time was 39 minutes for the C57BL/6We male, 38 minutes for the C57BL/6We female, 21 minutes for the DBA/2We male, and 24 minutes for the DBA/2We female. The drug combination provided effective anesthesia for these strains of the laboratory mouse for a period of 30--50 minutes after a single intramuscular injection.     

Effects of Anesthetic Ketamine on Anxiety-Like Behaviour in Rats

There is scarce information regarding the effects of anesthetic doses of the non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine on anxiety. The current study evaluated the acute effects of intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered anesthetic ketamine (100 mg/kg) i.p. on anxiety in rats. For this purpose, the light/dark and the open field tests were utilized. The effects of anesthetic ketamine on motility were also examined using a motility cage. In the light/dark test, anesthetic ketamine, administered 24 h before testing reduced the number of transitions between the light and dark compartments and the time spent in the light compartment in the rats compared with their control cohorts. In addition, ketamine was found to exert a depressive effect on rats’ motility. In the open field test, animals treated with anesthetic ketamine 24 h before testing spent essentially no time in the central area of the apparatus, decreased horizontal ambulatory activity, and preserved to a certain extent their exploratory behaviour compared to their control counterparts. The results suggest that, in spite of its hypokinetic effect, a single anesthetic ketamine administration apparently induces an anxiety-like state, while largely preserving exploratory behaviour in the rat. These effects were time-dependent they since they were extinguished when testing was carried out 48 h after anesthetic ketamine administration.

     

Xylazine hydrochloride-ketamine hydrochloride immobilization of free-living red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Spain.

A combination of xylazine hydrochloride-ketamine hydrochloride was used to immobilize 83 wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (15 pups and 68 adults) at Do?ana National Park (Spain). Mean ketamine hydrochloride doses were 17.1 mg/kg (SE = 1.53) and 12.3 mg/kg (SE = 0.4) for pups and adults, respectively, and mean xylazine hydrochloride doses for the same groups were 6.2 mg/kg (SE = 0.63) and 4.7 mg/kg (SE = 0.14), respectively. Mean induction times and first reaction times were 1.6 minutes and 22.5 minutes for pups and 3.8 minutes and 39.4 minutes for adults, respectively. Recommended doses for wild adult foxes of unknown weight are 75 mg of ketamine hydrochloride and 20 mg of xylazine hydrochloride.     

Menstrual cycles in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) are unaffected by a single dose of the anesthetics ketamine and xylazine administered during the midfollicular phase at laparoscopy

To identify an anesthetic regimen that produces more complete relaxation and analgesia than ketamine hydrochloride (Ketaset®) alone, a combination of ketamine (15 mg/kg body weight) and the hypnotic xylazine (Rompun®, 0.33 mg/kg) was evaluated. Since the desired experimental application required that the anesthetic not interfere with normal hormonal events during the menstrual cycle, this combination administered on day 6 of the cycle was tested to determine whether hormonal surges, incidence of ovulation, or cycle length would be altered relative to the use of ketamine alone. In five of six animals, ketamine plus xylazine had no effect on the occurrence of timely surges of estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH), or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), or on ovulation as determined by the presence of a corpus luteum at laparoscopy and normal serum concentrations of progesterone. There were no significant differences between the cycle during treatment and previous cycles in the same animal for length of the menstrual cycle (26.0 ± 2.3 [5] days; X? ± S.D. [n] or luteal phase (13.4 ± 2.4 [5] days). Likewise, these values did not differ from those of ten control monkeys treated with ketumine only on day 5 or 6 of the cycle (incidence of ovulation, 10/10; cycle length, 27.9 ± 1.8 [10]; luteal phase length, 15.1 ± 1.4 [10], P > 0.05). Patterns of circulating progesterone were not altered by the addition of xylazine anesthesia. These findings indicate that xylazine, given in the midfollicular phase, did not alter ovulatory events or menstrual cycle characteristics in rhesus monkeys. Ketamine plus xylazine apparently provides anesthesia appropriate for laparoscopy.     

Effects of yohimbine as a reversing agent for ketamine-xylazine anesthesia in budgerigars.

Fourteen adult budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were anesthetized with a combination of ketamine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg) and xylazine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Forty-five minutes after ketamine-xylazine injection, one of four yohimbine hydrochloride doses (0.0, 0.11, 0.275, or 0.44 mg/kg, IM) was administered in a 0.7% saline vehicle. Latencies were recorded in minutes from yohimbine injection until subjects' behavior indicated three different points of recovery: 1) lifting the head, 2) standing unaided without ataxia, and 3) perching. Means for all three recovery point latencies were significantly reduced by 0.275 mg/kg of yohimbine compared with saline vehicle alone. Mean latencies among treatment groups for each of the three recovery points were not significantly different, other than control versus treated groups. Based on these results, we recommend a yohimbine dose of 0.275 mg/kg as an effective reversing agent for ketamine-xylazine anesthesia in budgerigars.     

Blood parameters are little affected by time of sampling after the application of ketamine in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra)

Background Ketamine hydrochloride is an anesthetic commonly utilized to obtain biological samples in various non‐human primates. Its application alters individual hematologic and biochemical values. The aim of this study was to analyze its effect on blood parameters of Alouatta pigra. Method We collected blood samples at 10 and 40 minutes after the application of ketamine in 12 adult female A. pigra living in free‐ranging conditions. Results The analysis showed that 40 minutes after application of ketamine, the number of platelets, lymphocytes and concentration of phosphorus decreased; however, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, and potassium values increased. Conclusions Our results suggest that ketamine appears to have little effect on the hematology and blood biochemistry of Alouatta pigra females with respect to those reported for other non‐human primates. It is also important to consider the elapsed time after their application when taking blood samples for proper interpretation of the hemogram of Alouatta pigra females.     

A safe and fast-acting surgical anesthetic for use in the guinea pig.

Ketamine [dl-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone] hydrochloride was used in conjunction with Acepromazine [10-3-(dimethylamino)-propyl]phenothiazin-2-yl-methyl ketone] Maleate to produce surgical depth anesthesia in guinea pigs. In tests with 97 animals, an intramuscular injection of 44 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride plus 2 mg Acepromazine Maleate was found to be effective in producing a surgical level of anesthesia within 2 min after administration. The anesthetic state lasted for an average of 1.5 h and could be safely extended by supplemental administrations of the drugs. This anesthetic combination was found to be fast acting, safe, and easily controlled.     

四种麻醉药物对食蟹猴麻醉效果分析和选择应用

目的分析比对速眠新、氯胺酮、异氟烷和利多卡因4种不同麻醉药对食蟹猴的麻醉效果。方法总结实际工作中分别使用四种不同麻醉药物对食蟹猴作用的麻醉特点。结果速眠新、氯胺酮、异氟烷均能获得较好的麻醉效果,能满足不同手术、采样需要;局麻药利多卡因对食蟹猴麻醉的实际应用不理想。结论食蟹猴的手术及其他侵犯性操作等都应该考虑生物安全和动物福利要求,实行麻醉,但应根据食蟹猴实验内容要求和不同麻醉药特点选择合适的麻醉方法,确保人员和动物安全,实验结果不受影响。     

Use of two anesthetic combinations for semen collection by electroejaculation from captive coatis (Nasua nasua)

The objective was to compare the effects of ketamine-xylazine or tiletamine-zolazepam combinations as anesthetic protocols for captive coatis (Nasua nasua) for semen collection by electroejaculation. Five mature male coatis were physically restrained and then anesthetized by im injections of ketamine (10 mg/kg) plus xylazine (1 mg/kg) or a tiletamine-zolazepam combination (8 mg/kg). For the two combinations, additional quarter-doses of ketamine or the tiletamine-zolazepam combination were administered when necessary. Semen was collected by electroejaculation and immediately evaluated for color, volume, pH, sperm motility, vigor, morphology, acrosomal integrity, and percentage of live cells. Overall, collection of nine ejaculates was attempted from five animals for each treatment. Regardless of the anesthetic combination, all animals developed an erection during each attempt to collect semen. Ejaculates were obtained in all (9 of 9) attempts that used ketamine-xylazine for anesthesia, but in only 3 of 9 attempts (P < 0.05) when tiletamine-zolazepam was used. All ejaculates contained sperm, with no significant differences in semen characteristics between the two anesthetic combinations. Recovery was smooth in all animals. In conclusion, semen collection by electroejaculation in coatis was significantly more successful with the use of a ketamine-xylazine combination than with tiletamine-zolazepam.     

Morphological alterations in cultured neuromuscular tissue induced by two anesthetic agents

A diversity of pathogenic effects was observed in two complementary culture systems following their exposure to the anesthetic agents. Thiopental sodium and ketamine hydrochloride. The cytotoxic effects of both agents in these two culture types were reversible and dose-related. In organotypic spinal cord slice cultures, thiopental sodium caused general toxicity but no demyelination, while ketamine hydrochloride induced, to a varied extent, damage of the myelin sheath and degeneration of mitochondria into multilamellar bodies. In autologous nerve-muscle co-cultures both anaesthetic agents caused the arrest of muscle contractions. However, when added to skeletal muscle cultures, the drugs differed in their effect. Thiopental sodium did not inhibit spontaneous muscle contractions indicating, as in the case of Tubocurarine, a direct effect of the drug on the neuromuscular junction. Ketamine hydrochloride, in contrast, arrested spontaneous muscle contractions, implying that it did not directly affect the neuromuscular synapse.Special is one dedicated to Dr. Paola S. Timiras.