An apparatus for anesthetizing small laboratory animals.

A simple apparatus was designed for simultaneous general anesthesia of a number of small laboratory animals with spontaneous respiration. Anesthesia is consistent over many hr. The apparatus consists of an oxygen tank and vaporizer, a glass distribution bottle, and a non-return circuit of separate inspiratory and expiratory valves for each animal. The equipment is inexpensive to construct and can be rapidly adjusted for exact control of gas flow and anesthetic depth.     

An anesthetic system for small laboratory animals.

A non-rebreathing anesthetic system for administering volatile anesthetic mixtures to small laboratory animals was designed. The device is easily constructed and simple to operate, yet permits the anesthetic management of small animals by technics similar to those used for man and larger species.     

Spirograph for small laboratory animals

A design of dry spirograph is described. It is characterized by greater precision, lack of inertia, high reliability, absence of respiration resistance, adequate form of recording, rapid resetting to any respiratory rate. The device consists of two similar injection syringes, photoelectric sensor for the identification of the initial moments of respiration stages, electromagnetic valves, two photoelectric converters of the air volume into the impulse signal, vacuum micro-pump, microcompressor and a system of air-driving tubes. In the initial position of pistons and valves the microcompressor pumps air into the inhalation cylinder and lifts the piston to the upper extreme position. With the signal marking the beginning of inspiration, the valves switch over and the piston lowers, pushing out the air, which moves into the animals' respiratory organs. Simultaneously, the signals of the inhaled air volume from the photoelectric transducer reach the recorder. During expiration the air pushes the piston down into the second cylinder and photoelectric transducer gives the information on the volume of the expired air.     

An aseptic peritoneal cell collection technic for small laboratory animals.

Peritoneal exudate was collected by introducing a lavage medium (sterile saline or an equivalent) via syringe and needle into the peritoneal cavity of the anesthetized animal. The lavage medium was recovered by allowing it to flow through the needle into a sterile container. This method guards against contamination. Eighty to 90% of the initial lavage volume is retrieved.     

A new airway device for small laboratory animals

There is a need for a device for improved management of the airway of small laboratory animals during general anaesthesia. This report introduces such a device, referred to here as the airway device (AD). The AD has some similarity to the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) developed for human patients, but the mask portion of the device is specifically designed for small laboratory animals. In addition, the device has an oesophageal extension and unlike the LMA does not have a cuff associated with the mask. This report also shares experience of tests of one prototype AD with six New Zealand white rabbits. The AD was used for administering isoflurane and its effectiveness was evaluated during conditions of spontaneous and controlled intermittent positive pressure ventilation. The results provide encouragement for further development of the AD for airway management of small laboratory animals.     

Cardiac glycoside toxicity in small laboratory animals

Cardiac glycosides are frequently administered to laboratory animals for research purposes. The effects achieved depend not only upon the particular glycoside and dose administered, but also upon an entire array of variables from the species of animal to the temperature of the animal housing facility. We review a number of these factors and their influence upon the effects achieved by the administration of cardiac glycosides to laboratory animals.