Aversion to Desflurane and Isoflurane in Sprague-Dawley Rats (Rattus Norvegicus)

Animals

Maaria Shah¹  Katrina Frost²  DanielS. J. Pang²  VivianS. Y. Leung³ 

[1] Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada;Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;

关键词: euthanasia;    rats;    animal welfare;    refinement;    aversion;    isoflurane;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani10060950

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Carbon dioxide and isoflurane are widely used for killing rats, yet may not truly achieve “euthanasia”, because they elicit aversion. The inhalant anesthetic desflurane is faster acting than isoflurane, representing a potential refinement. Using an aversion-avoidance paradigm, 24 rats were exposed to isoflurane or desflurane (n = 12 per group) at initial exposure. Fourteen rats were then re-exposed to isoflurane or desflurane (n = 7 per group), after a 7 days washout period. Initial exposure: time to recumbency was faster for desflurane than isoflurane (p = 0.0008, 95% CI [-12.9 to 32.6 s]), with 9/12 and 6/12 rats becoming recumbent, respectively. At initial exposure, there was no difference between groups in time to withdrawal (p = 0.714). At re-exposure, all rats withdrew and no rats became recumbent. Time to withdrawal at re-exposure did not differ between treatment groups (p = 0.083). Compared to initial exposure, time to withdrawal during re-exposure was similar for isoflurane (p = 0.228) and faster with desflurane (p = 0.012, 95% CI [19.1 to 49.5 s]). Isoflurane and desflurane are similarly aversive, with aversion increasing at re-exposure. The shorter time from exposure to recumbency with desflurane indicates that any distress is of a shorter duration when compared with isoflurane.

【 授权许可】

Unknown