MSU IACUC Anesthesia and Analgesia Guidelines Guidelines for Rats

Physiologic parameters Body temperature Heart rate Respiratory rate Tidal volume 35.9-37.5 C 250-450/min 70-115/min 0.6-2.0 ml

Anticholinergics Atropine 0.05 mg/kg SC, IP Glycopyrrolate 0.5 mg/kg IM

Tranquilizers Acepromazine 1-2.5 mg/kg IM Chlorpromazine 1-2 mg/kg IM Diazepam 2-4 mg/kg IP, IV

Dissociative Anesthetics Ketamine-xylazine 75-100 mg/kg + 5-10 mg/kg IP, duration 10-30 minutes Ketamine-medetomidine 75 mg/kg + 0.5 mg/kg IP, duration 20-30 minutes Tiletamine/zolezepam 40 mg/kg IP, 15-25 minutes light anesthesia

Barbiturates Other Propofol 10 mg/kg IV, 5 minutes Pentobarbital 40-50 mg/kg IP, 15-60 minutes light anesthesia Thiopental 30 mg/kg IV, 10 minutes

Analgesics/NSAIDs (used pre-operatively for preemptive analgesia) Buprenorphine 0.01-0.05 mg/kg SQ or IV 8-12 hourly

To prepare a buprenorphine (Buprenex) dilution for smaller rodents, one 1 ml vial of Buprenex (0.3 mg) is drawn into a sterile syringe and added to 19 ml of sterile 5% dextrose in water or 0.9 % NaCl and dispensed into a sterile vial (e.g. a sterile serum tube). Label the tube "Buprenorphine HCl, 0.015 mg/ml" and the date prepared. Expiration date is either that from the original package, or 6 months from the date prepared. Protect from light. Administer 0.6-1.3 ml per average 200 g rat. Butorphanol 2 mg/kg SQ, every 4 hours Morphine 2.5 mg/kg SC, 2-4 hourly

The following NSAIDs may be used pre-operatively for preemptive analgesia and post-operatively every 12-24 hour. Depending on the procedure may be used as sole analgesic, or as multi-modal analgesia with buprenorphine. Carprofen 4-5 mg/kg SC Meloxicam ~ 0.2 mg/kg PO, IM or SC Ketoprofen 2 5 mg/kg SC Ketorolac 5 7.5 mg/kg oral or SC Flunixin meglumine ~ 2 mg/kg SC

Inhalational Anesthesia of Rats: The use of diethyl ether as an inhalant is discouraged because of distress to animals, high vapor pressure and flammability. Methoxyflurane (Metofane) is no longer produced in the US making it expensive to use as an anesthetic. Halothane is also out of production in the US. Isoflurane or sevoflurane are good substitutes but due to higher vapor pressures and lower solubilities they are normally administered via a precision vaporizer. A description of the isoflurane open-drop method from Yale University IACUC can be found at http://iacuc.yale.edu/procedures/opendrop.html Local Anesthetics Local anesthetic/analgesics (lidocaine and bupivacaine) may be combined in one syringe for rapid onset and long duration analgesia) Lidocaine hydrochloride: Dilute to 0.5%, do not exceed 2 mg/kg total dose, SC or intraincisional; mix with bupivacaine 1 mg/kg. Use locally before making surgical incision. Mixture has benefit of shorter onset and longer duration. Bupivacaine: Dilute to 0.25%, do not exceed 1 mg/kg total dose, SC or intra-incisional; mix with lidocaine 2 mg/kg. Use locally before making surgical incision. Mixture has benefit of shorter onset and longer duration