Abstract: | The effects of ketamine anesthesia (15 mg/kg body weight) on hematological and serum biochemical values were examined in six female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) who were born in the wild. As control, another six female cynomolgus monkeys of the same origin were injected with physiological saline. The white blood cell count, total protein concentration, albumin concentration and calcium concentration decreased after the injection of ketamine, whereas the red blood cell count, hematocrit value, hemoglobin concentration, total cholesterol concentration, free cholesterol concentration, triglyceride concentration, transaminase activities (GOT, GPT) and alkaline phosphatase activity were not affected. A transient increase of the serum glucose level was observed within 10 minutes after ketamine injection. The relationship between these effects of ketamine anesthesia and serum cortisol levels measured by radioimmunoassay was discussed. |