CIRCULATORY, RESPIRATORY AND ACID-BASE-BALANCE CHANGES PRODUCED BY ANESTHETICS IN RAT

Abstract

The effects of several anesthetics [pentobarbital sodium, diethyl urethane, urethane-chloralose, urethane-.alpha.-chloralose, .alpha.-chloralose and morphine-chloralose] on some cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic responses were studied in the rat. Drugs were given by the i.p. route and observations were made during a period of 3 h after the injection of the agent. Results were compared with normal values obtained from unanesthetized animals. Urethane produced a metabolic acidosis, chloralose increased heart rate and morphine-chloralose mixture produced a sustained hypoxia. None of these agents evoked arrhythmias in the rat. Effects of the anesthesia should be taken into account in the evaluation of drugs in anesthetized rats.