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Mortality associated with using medetomidine and ketamine for general anesthesia in pregnant and nonpregnant Wistar rats

Lab Animal volume 43, pages 208–214 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Medetomidine and ketamine are injectable drugs that can be used in combination to induce general anesthesia in rats. After noticing a high incidence of morbidity and mortality in pregnant Wistar rats given medetomidine and ketamine for anesthesia, the authors further investigated the effects of this combination of anesthetic drugs in both pregnant and nonpregnant Wistar rats. The time to recumbency and the duration of general anesthesia were similar between pregnant and nonpregnant rats. Pregnancy status did not affect the rats' pulse rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, oxygen saturation or perfusion index during 2 h of anesthesia. Pregnant rats had significantly lower blood glucose concentrations than nonpregnant rats at all time points, though blood glucose concentrations increased in both groups. The mortality rate was ∼15% both for nonpregnant rats and for pregnant rats. Researchers using medetomidine and ketamine to anesthetize Wistar rats should carefully monitor the rats in order to minimize mortality.

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Figure 1: Mean pulse rate (beats per min) during anesthesia.
Figure 2: Mean respiratory rate (breaths per min) during anesthesia.
Figure 3: Mean rectal temperature during anesthesia.
Figure 4: Mean SpO2 during anesthesia.
Figure 5: Scatter plot showing correlation between PI and SpO2.
Figure 6: Mean blood glucose concentration (mmol/l) before (0 min) and after administration of anesthetics.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Leah Attwood (Animal Services, The University of Western Australia) for providing technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Care Services, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

    Lauren M. Callahan,  Simone M. Ross &  Gabrielle C. Musk

  2. School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

    Megan L. Jones

  3. School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia

    Gabrielle C. Musk

Authors
  1. Lauren M. Callahan
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  2. Simone M. Ross
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  4. Gabrielle C. Musk
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Correspondence to Gabrielle C. Musk.

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Callahan, L., Ross, S., Jones, M. et al. Mortality associated with using medetomidine and ketamine for general anesthesia in pregnant and nonpregnant Wistar rats. Lab Anim 43, 208–214 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.517

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