Vital signs monitoring during injectable and inhalant anesthesia in mice

Selecting the appropriate anesthetic protocol for the individual animal is an essential part of laboratory animal experimentation. The present study compared the characteristics of four anesthetic protocols in mice, focusing on the vital signs. Thirty-two male ddY mice were divided into four groups and administered anesthesia as follows: pentobarbital sodium monoanaesthesia; ketamine and xylazine combined (K/X); medetomidine, midazolam, and butorphanol combined (M/M/B); and isoflurane. In each group, rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and O₂ saturation (SPO₂) were measured, and the changes over time and instability in these signs were compared. The anesthetic depth was also evaluated in each mouse, and the percentage of mice achieving surgical anesthesia was calculated. K/X anesthesia caused remarkable bradycardia, while the respiratory rate and SPO₂ were higher than with the others, suggesting a relatively strong cardiac influence and less respiratory depression. The M/M/B group showed a relatively lower heart rate and SPO₂, but these abnormalities were rapidly reversed by atipamezole administration. The pentobarbital group showed a lower SPO₂, and 62.5% of mice did not reach a surgical anesthetic depth. The isoflurane group showed a marked decrease in respiratory rate compared with the injectable anesthetic groups. However, it had the most stable SPO₂ among the groups, suggesting a higher tidal volume. The isoflurane group also showed the highest heart rate during anesthesia. In conclusion, the present study showed the cardiorespiratory characteristics of various anesthetic protocols, providing basic information for selecting an appropriate anesthetic for individual animals during experimentation.     

Monitoring respiratory function and sleep in the obese Vietnamese pot-bellied pig.

Development of drug treatments for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing has been impeded by the lack of animal models. The obese pig may be a suitable animal model, as it has been reported to experience sleep-disordered breathing resembling human obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail techniques for chronic instrumentation of the obese Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and to study respiratory function during sleep. Under general anesthesia, four obese pigs were instrumented for long-term recording of intrapleural and tracheal pressures, genioglossal EMG, and bioelectric signals related to sleep. A custom-fitted face mask was used to record respiratory variables including airflow, snoring, and expired CO(2). Most chronic instrumentation provided robust signals for up to 6 wk after installation. All pigs displayed sleep-disordered breathing characterized by increased resistance to airflow, snoring, inspiratory flow limitation, and possible sleep disruption. Apneas and hypopneas were not a feature of breathing during sleep in these animals. Nonetheless, this animal preparation may be useful for exploring possible drug treatments for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.     

Propofol Pharmacokinetics and Estimation of Fetal Propofol Exposure during Mid-Gestational Fetal Surgery: A Maternal-Fetal Sheep Model

Background

Measuring fetal drug concentrations is extremely difficult in humans. We conducted a study in pregnant sheep to simultaneously describe maternal and fetal concentrations of propofol, a common intravenous anesthetic agent used in humans. Compared to inhalational anesthesia, propofol supplemented anesthesia lowered the dose of desflurane required to provide adequate uterine relaxation during open fetal surgery. This resulted in better intraoperative fetal cardiac outcome. This study describes maternal and fetal propofol pharmacokinetics (PK) using a chronically instrumented maternal-fetal sheep model.

Methods

Fetal and maternal blood samples were simultaneously collected from eight mid-gestational pregnant ewes during general anesthesia with propofol, remifentanil and desflurane. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was performed by using NONMEM software. Total body weight, gestational age and hemodynamic parameters were tested in the covariate analysis. The final model was validated by bootstrapping and visual predictive check.

Results

A total of 160 propofol samples were collected. A 2-compartment maternal PK model with a third fetal compartment appropriately described the data. Mean population parameter estimates for maternal propofol clearance and central volume of distribution were 4.17 L/min and 37.7 L, respectively, in a typical ewe with a median heart rate of 135 beats/min. Increase in maternal heart rate significantly correlated with increase in propofol clearance. The estimated population maternal-fetal inter-compartment clearance was 0.0138 L/min and the volume of distribution of propofol in the fetus was 0.144 L. Fetal propofol clearance was found to be almost negligible compared to maternal clearance and could not be robustly estimated.

Conclusions

For the first time, a maternal-fetal PK model of propofol in pregnant ewes was successfully developed. This study narrows the gap in our knowledge in maternal-fetal PK model in human. Our study confirms that maternal heart rate has an important influence on the pharmacokinetics of propofol during pregnancy. Much lower propofol concentration in the fetus compared to maternal concentrations explain limited placental transfer in in-vivo paired model, and less direct fetal cardiac depression we observed earlier with propofol supplemented inhalational anesthesia compared to higher dose inhalational anesthesia in humans and sheep.     

预负荷／共同负荷联合血管收缩药对腰麻剖宫产术血流动力学变化

目的探讨预负荷／共同负荷联合小剂量血管收缩药盐酸麻黄碱注射液（上海信谊金朱药业有限公司）、盐酸去氧肾上腺索注射液（上海禾丰制药有限公司）对腰麻剖官产术中血流动力学的变化及预防低血压的有效性及安全性。方法选择剖官产术90例,随机分为3组,每组30例．ASAI～Ⅱ级。预负荷晶体液乳酸林格氏注射液（石家庄西药有限公司）6～8ml／kg联合共同负荷输入羟乙基淀粉130／0．4氯化钠溶液（万汶,北京费森尤斯卡比医药有限公司）10ml／kg。术中监测记录SBP、DBP、HR、ECG、SpO2。结果预负荷／共同负荷联合血管收缩药预防剖宫产术腰麻后低血压。P组和E组的低血压发生率明显低于C组（P〈0．05）;P组术中HR低于E组和C组。预防恶心、呕吐给于盐酸昂丹司琼注射液（齐鲁制药有限公司）,不良反应少,无明显呼吸抑制、无术后头痛现象。结论预负荷／共同负荷联合小剂量血管收缩药,有效降低腰麻后低血压的发生率,去氧肾上腺素比麻黄碱能更好维持产妇血流动力学的稳定。对新生儿无不良影响,安全。     

Effects of passive immunization of growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin on growth hormone secretion under conditions of high somatostatin tone.

Pulsatile GH secretion decreases during food-deprivation in the rat. It has been hypothesized that this decrease is due to elevated hypothalamic somatostatin secretion. This is based on the observation that GH increases in food-deprived rats following removal of endogenous somatostatin using passive immunization techniques. Cognizant of the important stimulatory effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) on GH secretion, we sought to determine if this neuropeptide plays any role in mediating GH secretion in food-deprived rats. Male rats were prepared with indwelling venous catheters using sodium pentobarbital anesthesia seven days prior to experimentation. Animals were food-deprived for 72 h, after which control blood samples were drawn from -60 to 0 min. One group was then treated with normal rabbit serum (NRS), while a second group was treated with GHRH antiserum (GHRHab). At 55 min all animals received somatostatin antiserum (SSab). No animal exhibited any spontaneous GH peak during the one hour control period or in the subsequent one hour period following the administration of GHRHab or NRS. Absence of GH pulsatility during food-deprivation, coupled with no decrease in GH levels in food-deprived rats treated with GHRHab suggest that diminished GHRH pulsatility is likely during food-deprivation. Subsequent treatment of these animals with SSab resulted in an identical 2.5 fold increase in GH concentrations. This result suggests that GHRH is not involved in the GH rebound following somatostatin withdrawal in food-deprived rats.     

Anesthetic and pathological changes following high doses of ketamine and xylazine in Sprague Dawley rats

The main objective of this study was to compare the effects of ketamine and xylazine in aging rats when coadministered intraperitoneally at high anesthetic doses. Three groups (n=6 rats/group) consisting of rats at 3, 6 and 12 months of age were used. During anesthesia, animals were monitored for heart rate, respiratory frequency, blood oxygen saturation, and rectal temperature. The corneal and paw withdrawal reflex were also examined during anesthesia. During anesthesia, withdrawal and corneal reflexes were absent for progressively longer durations with increasing age. Significant decreases in cardiac and respiratory frequency and, blood oxygen saturation occurred for the 6- and 12-month-old animals. Respiratory frequency and blood oxygen saturation returned to normal at the end of the anesthesia; however, the significant decrease in cardiac frequency persisted in the 6- and 12-month-old animals. Rectal temperature was decreased significantly only in the 3-month-old animals. Pulmonary edema and effusion occurred in 50% of the 12-month-old animals. In conclusion, if ketamine-xylazine are used for anesthesia, the doses should be optimized for the age of the subjects prior to initiation of the research project.     

Effects of chronic instrumentation on fetal growth

Chronically-instrumented fetal sheep are a commonly used animal model for the study of fetal growth and metabolism. In the current study, we wanted to test the hypothesis that instrumentation alone would alter fetal growth patterns. Thirty-two animals in three groups were used: (i) non-instrumented animals (n = 10); (ii) instrumented with catheters in the maternal and fetal femoral artery and vein and electromagnetic flow probes on the main uterine arteries (n = 10): (iii) animals instrumented as group 2, but with the addition of a doppler flow probe on the common umbilical artery and a common umbilical vein catheter (n = 12). Animals in group 2 and 3 were monitored until 137 to 140 days of gestation, at which time they were sacrificed for fetal morphometric measurements. Instrumentation significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased fetal body weight, length, and thymus weights. Liver-to-body ratios increased (P less than 0.05) in both surgically-instrumented groups. The addition of the umbilical artery doppler flow probe and an umbilical venous catheter did not lead to any further alterations in fetal growth. The current study demonstrates that surgical instrumentation alone can lead to significant alterations in fetal growth.     

Inhalation anesthesia in adult cattle

An inhalation technique was used for anesthesia during ileal cannulation in five adult cows. Following sedation with intravenous acepromazine, anesthesia was induced intravenously with thiopental sodium in 5% glyceryl guaiacolate solution. Endotracheal intubation was performed and anesthesia maintained with halothane in oxygen via a circle system with a precision vaporizer. In all cases, induction was smooth and no difficulties were experienced during the maintenance of anesthesia. Total anesthesia time was 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Following completion of the surgical procedure, which was performed with the animal in left lateral recumbency, each cow was rolled to a sternal position and supported, if necessary. The endotracheal tube was left in place, with oxygen administration continued, until the animal was able to swallow. Recoveries were rapid and all animals were ambulatory within 30 minutes after completion of the surgery. The only post-operative complication due to anesthesia was transient mouth soreness in two cases, attributed to the use of a mouth speculum during intubation.     

Breathing pattern and CO2 response in newborn rats before and during anesthesia

We have studied the breathing pattern (minute ventilation VE, tidal volume VT, and respiratory rate f) in newborn rats before and during barbiturate (20-30 mg/kg ip) or ketamine anesthesia (40-80 mg/kg ip). Animals were intact and prone in a flow plethysmograph in thermoneutral conditions. Before anesthesia, CO2 breathing (5 min in 5% and 5 min in 10% CO2 in O2) resulted in a substantial increase in VE (169 and 208%, respectively), which was maintained throughout the entire CO2 breathing period. This indicates that, despite the extremely large VE per kilogram at rest, in these small animals there is still a large reserve for a sustained increase in VE. During barbiturate, the resting VE dropped to 45% of control, due to a reduction in VT (83%) and f (59%). This latter result was due to a prolongation of the expiratory time (214%) with no significant changes in inspiratory time. CO2 response was also much depressed, to approximately 63% of the control. The late portion of the expiratory flow-volume curves, the slope of which represents the expiratory time constant of the system, was similar before and during anesthesia in approximately 50% of the animals, whereas it increased during anesthesia in the remaining animals. Although compliance of the respiratory system was generally unaltered, the increased impedance during anesthesia probably reflected an increased resistance. Qualitatively similar results were obtained during ketamine anesthesia. Therefore, as observed in adult mammals, anesthesia in newborn rats has a marked depressant effect on resting breathing pattern and CO2 response, occasionally accompanied by an increase in the expiratory impedance of the respiratory system.     

两种用于小型猪胰肾联合移植实验麻醉方法的比较

目的比较静脉复合吸入全麻和静脉全麻两种方法用于小型猪胰肾联合移植实验中的麻醉效果,探讨简单、安全、易行的麻醉方法。方法A、B两组健康贵州小香猪,每组6只,基础麻醉后气管插管,A组：持续吸入异氟醚维持麻醉,根据手术要求间断注入万可松和芬太尼;B组：持续注入氯胺酮,间断静脉注射万可松和芬太尼维持麻醉。观察麻醉持续时间,镇痛和肌松药量,术后拔管和完全清醒时间,监测麻醉过程中血压、心率、脉搏氧的变化。结果A组术中麻醉效果好,血压、心率和脉搏氧稳定,与B组有显著差异（P〈0.05）;B组麻醉效果较差,肌松用药量明显增多,术后完全清醒时间长于A组（P〈0.05）。结论气管插管后静吸复合的麻醉方法是用于贵州小型猪实验安全、合适的麻醉方法。     

Chromosomal abnormalities in maternal and fetal tissues of magnesium- or zinc-deficient rats.

The effect of dietary deficiency during pregnancy of zinc or magnesium on maternal and fetal chromosomes was studied. Pregnant rats were given a zinc-deficient or a magnesium-deficient diet from the beginning of pregnancy and maternal bone marrow and fetal liver were removed on day 19 of gestation. Chromosome spreads were prepared and metaphases examined for abnormalities. Both magnesium- and zinc-deficient maternal bone-marrow and fetal liver cells showed significantly more chromosomal abnormalities than did those of controls. The chromosomal aberrations occurring in highest incidence in magnesium-deficient animals were terminal deletions and fragments. A higher than normal incidence of "stickiness" was also observed in cells from magnesium-deficient animals. In zinc-deficient animals, on the other hand, the chromosomal aberrations with the highest incidence were gaps and terminal deletions.     

Urine production in the halothane anesthetized rabbit

Urine and blood parameters were studied in rabbits subjected to anesthesia and abdominal surgery. Conscious control animals both fasted and fed to which water was freely available were used for comparison. During anesthesia and operation one group of animals were given no intravenous fluid, other groups were infused with normal saline at a rate of 0.5 ml, 1 ml, or 2 ml per minute. The results demonstrated that an intravenous saline infusion of 0.5 ml per minute, maintains an essentially normal state of hydration and is beneficial to rabbits during anesthesia and surgery. However, with such an infusion, the rabbits do not produce urine under the experimental conditions. Higher rates of infusion are associated with a declining heart rate and blood pressure, abnormal urine, and metabolic acidosis. We conclude that the rabbit is an inappropraite species for renal studies involving anesthesia and surgery.     

A New Method to Derive Fetal Heart Rate from Maternal Abdominal Electrocardiogram: Monitoring Fetal Heart Rate during Cesarean Section

BackgroundMonitoring of fetal heart rate (FHR) is important during labor since it is a sensitive marker to obtain significant information about fetal condition. To take immediate response during cesarean section (CS), we noninvasively derive FHR from maternal abdominal ECG.MethodsWe recruited 17 pregnant women delivered by elective cesarean section, with abdominal ECG obtained before and during the entire CS. First, a QRS-template is created by averaging all the maternal ECG heart beats. Then, Hilbert transform was applied to QRS-template to generate the other basis which is orthogonal to the QRS-template. Second, maternal QRS, P and T waves were adaptively subtracted from the composited ECG. Third, Gabor transformation was applied to obtain time-frequency spectrogram of FHR. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters including standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), 0V, 1V, 2V derived from symbolic dynamics of HRV and SD1, SD2 derived from Poincareé plot. Three emphasized stages includes: (1) before anesthesia, (2) 5 minutes after anesthesia and (3) 5 minutes before CS delivery.ResultsFHRs were successfully derived from all maternal abdominal ECGs. FHR increased 5 minutes after anesthesia and 5 minutes before delivery. As for HRV parameters, SDNN increased both 5 minutes after anesthesia and 5 minutes before delivery (21.30±9.05 vs. 13.01±6.89, P < 0.001 and 22.88±12.01 vs. 13.01±6.89, P < 0.05). SD1 did not change during anesthesia, while SD2 increased significantly 5 minutes after anesthesia (27.92±12.28 vs. 16.18±10.01, P < 0.001) and both SD2 and 0V percentage increased significantly 5 minutes before delivery (30.54±15.88 vs. 16.18±10.01, P < 0.05; 0.39±0.14 vs. 0.30±0.13, P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe developed a novel method to automatically derive FHR from maternal abdominal ECGs and proved that it is feasible during CS.     

Anesthesia of wild red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) with medetomidine/ketamine and reversal by atipamezole

Wild red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) were translocated during the flooding of the forest at a hydroelectric dam site in French Guiana. For a variety of minor clinical procedures, 96 monkeys were anesthetized with various intramuscular injections of combinations of medetomidine and ketamine. The howler population was composed of healthy animals (42 males and 54 females) of various ages. Medetomidine (150 μg/kg) associated with ketamine (4 mg/kg) gave the best results and was used on 63 animals. The injection rapidly resulted in complete immobilization with good to excellent myorelaxation. The induction stage was quiet, with absence of both corneal and pedal withdrawal reflexes in 57 animals after 2.9 ± 1.4 min. Six animals required an additional injection. Rectal temperature and respiratory and heart rates decreased during anesthesia, whereas relative oxyhemoglobin saturation increased. One death occurred during anesthesia. One abortion and one death also occurred the day following anesthesia but were more probably a result of capture stress. Atipamezole given i.m. at a dose of five times the medetomidine dose 38.4 ± 8.0 min after the anesthetic injection led to standing recovery in 7.1 ± 4.5 min. Spontaneous recovery occurred in 17 animals before the atipamezole injection after an average of 30.6 ± 9.6 min. Total recovery time was shorter in young animals. Medetomidine/ketamine induced good myorelaxation and provided considerably shortened immobilization duration, which are two notable advantages for field studies. We recommend this association for short procedures including minor surgery in red howler monkeys. Am. J. Primatol. 45:399–410, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of isoflurane anesthesia on glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in Yucatan minipigs.

Isoflurane's effect on intravenous glucose tolerance and insulin secretion was studied in six Yucatan minipigs. Unanesthetized animals, with previously placed indwelling venous catheters, were tested while resting comfortably in slings. The same animals were then retested during isoflurane anesthesia. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at predetermined times in response to an intravenous bolus of dextrose. The glucose disappearance rate (k), baseline plasma insulin concentration, the area under the insulin response curve, and the insulinogenic index were significantly lower in the anesthetized animals than in controls. The results of this study indicate that anesthesia with isoflurane significantly alters the glucose/insulin response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test and, therefore, is unsuitable for studies when glucose tolerance is to be assessed.     

Roles of alpha 1- and beta-adrenergic receptors in adrenergic responsiveness of liver cells formed after partial hepatectomy

The adrenergic receptor involved in the action of epinephrine changed dramatically during the process of active proliferation which follows partial hepatectomy. In control or sham-operated animals, the stimulation of glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis by epinephrine was mediated through alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. In contrast, in hepatocytes obtained from animals partially hepatectomized 3 days before experimentation, the receptor involved in the stimulation of these metabolic pathways by epinephrine was of the beta-adrenergic type. Interestingly, the adrenergic receptor involved in the metabolic actions of epinephrine, in hepatocytes from rats partially hepatectomized 7 days before experimentation was again of the alpha 1-subtype. Thus, it appears that during the process of liver regeneration which follows partial hepatectomy there is a transition in the type of adrenergic receptor involved in the hepatic actions of catecholamines from beta in the initial stages to later alpha 1. A similar transition seems to occur as the animal ages. Cyclic AMP accumulation in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation was significantly enhanced in hepatocytes obtained from rats partially hepatectomized 3 days before the experiment, as compared to control hepatocytes or cells obtained from animals operated 7 days before experimentation. This enhanced beta-adrenergic sensitivity is probably related to the increased number of beta-adrenergic receptors observed at this stage. However, a clear dissociation between cyclic AMP levels and metabolic effects was evidenced when the different conditions were compared. The number and affinity (for epinephrine or prazosin) of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors did not change at any stage of the process, which indicates that the markedly diminished alpha 1-adrenergic sensitivity observed in hepatocytes obtained from rats partially hepatectomized 3 days before experimentation is probably due to defective generation or intracellular processing of the alpha 1-adrenergic signal, rather than to changes at the receptor level.     

Surgical Placement of Catheters for Long-term Cardiovascular Exercise Testing in Swine

This protocol describes the surgical procedure to chronically instrument swine and the procedure to exercise swine on a motor-driven treadmill. Early cardiopulmonary dysfunction is difficult to diagnose, particularly in animal models, as cardiopulmonary function is often measured invasively, requiring anesthesia. As many anesthetic agents are cardiodepressive, subtle changes in cardiovascular function may be masked. In contrast, chronic instrumentation allows for measurement of cardiopulmonary function in the awake state, so that measurements can be obtained under quiet resting conditions, without the effects of anesthesia and acute surgical trauma. Furthermore, when animals are properly trained, measurements can also be obtained during graded treadmill exercise.Flow probes are placed around the aorta or pulmonary artery for measurement of cardiac output and around the left anterior descending coronary artery for measurement of coronary blood flow. Fluid-filled catheters are implanted in the aorta, pulmonary artery, left atrium, left ventricle and right ventricle for pressure measurement and blood sampling. In addition, a 20 G catheter is positioned in the anterior interventricular vein to allow coronary venous blood sampling.After a week of recovery, swine are placed on a motor-driven treadmill, the catheters are connected to pressure and flow meters, and swine are subjected to a five-stage progressive exercise protocol, with each stage lasting 3 min. Hemodynamic signals are continuously recorded and blood samples are taken during the last 30 sec of each exercise stage.The major advantage of studying chronically instrumented animals is that it allows serial assessment of cardiopulmonary function, not only at rest but also during physical stress such as exercise. Moreover, cardiopulmonary function can be assessed repeatedly during disease development and during chronic treatment, thereby increasing statistical power and hence limiting the number of animals required for a study.     

Pregnancy in suboestrus buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) after treatment with Prostaglandin F(2) alpha

Seventy six apparently anoestrous buffaloes, with a palpable corpus luteum at day 43 to 547 post partum, were treated intramuscularly with Prostaglandin, using either 25 mg single dose (Group I), 25 mg double dose 11 days apart (Group II), or 50 mg single dose (Group III). Animals exhibiting oestrus, without any treatment, during the period of experimentation served as control (Group IV). The overall conception rate for the treated animals was 28.8, 51,5, and 69.7 percents after one, two, and three inseminations, respectively. The conception rate, at induced as well as subsequent oestrus, was comparable to control animals. The intergroup differences among treated animals were not significant. The conception rate was greater when the induced heat was more intensely expressed. The subsequent mean oestrus cycle length was similar to controls when all of the treated animals were considered together.     

Reversible immobilization of free-ranging African lions (Panthera leo) with medetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam and atipamezole

A combination of medetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam was used to conduct six immobilizations of free-ranging lions (Panthera leo) in Waza National Park, Cameroon, during 1999 and 2000. Drugs were administered by dart injection at 0.07+/-0.01 (mean+/-SD) mg/kg of medetomidine and 1.8+/-0.5 mg/kg of tiletamine-zolazepam. Chemical immobilization was characterized by smooth inductions (14.1+/-6 min), satisfactory analgesia, and muscle relaxation. One animal was treated for bradypnea. No major alterations of physiologic parameters (heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature) were seen during immobilization in the other lions. Relative arterial oxygen saturation was measured in two animals and revealed mild hypoxemia. The animals received atipamezole at 0.3+/-0.1 mg/kg intramuscularly for reversal of anesthesia. Recoveries were uneventful. All animals were radiocollared, and no mortalities occurred during an 18-mo follow-up period. Use of medetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam for anesthesia and reversal of anesthesia with atipamezole appear to be useful for reversible immobilization of free-ranging lions.     

动物实验中的兽医作用

实验动物是现代医学研究中的重要基础和条件,随着我国实验动物科学的迅速发展和实验动物和动物实验质和量的不断提高,对实验动物兽医的需求越来越大,对实验动物兽医的要求和期望也越来越高,本文简要阐述了兽医在动物实验中的作用.文章就实验动物兽医应该具备的资质、实验动物兽医的基本职责以及实验动物健康与兽医管理等方面进行了讨论,明确了实验动物兽医的各项基本职责及任务.兽医在实验动物的管理以及动物实验的过程中有着非常重要的作用,在动物实验中应充分发挥兽医的作用.