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MSU IACUC Anesthesia and Analgesia Guidelines

Guidelines for Rats

Physiologic parameters

Body temperature 35.9-37.5 C

Heart rate 250-450/min

Respiratory rate 70-115/min

Tidal volume 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

Pentobarbital 40-50 mg/kg IP, 15-60 minutes light anesthesia

Thiopental 30 mg/kg IV, 10 minutes

Other

Propofol 10 mg/kg IV, 5 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 (0.3mg) is drawn into a sterile syringe and added to 19 ml of sterile 5% dextrose in water or 0.9 % NaCland dispensed into a sterile vial (e.g. a sterile serum tube). Label the tube "Buprenorphine HCl, 0.015mg/ml" and the date prepared. Expiration date is either that from the original package, or 6 monthsfrom 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

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The following NSAIDs may be used pre-operatively for preemptive analgesia and post-operativelyevery 12-24 hour. Depending on the procedure may be used as sole analgesic, or as multi-modalanalgesia 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 ofdistress to animals, high vapor pressure and flammability. Methoxyflurane (Metofane) is no longerproduced in the US making it expensive to use as an anesthetic. Halothane is also out of production inthe US. Isoflurane or sevoflurane are good substitutes but due to higher vapor pressures and lowersolubilities they are normally administered via a precision vaporizer. A description of the isofluraneopen-drop method from Yale University IACUC can be found athttp://iacuc.yale.edu/procedures/opendrop.html

Local Anesthetics

Local anesthetic/analgesics (lidocaine and bupivacaine) may be combined in one syringe forrapid onset and long duration analgesia)

Lidocaine hydrochloride: Dilute to 0.5%, do not exceed 2 mg/kg total dose, SC or intra-incisional; mix with bupivacaine 1 mg/kg. Use locally before making surgical incision. Mixturehas benefit of shorter onset and longer duration.

Bupivacaine: Dilute to 0.25%, do not exceed 1 mg/kg total dose, SC or intra-incisional; mixwith lidocaine 2 mg/kg. Use locally before making surgical incision. Mixture has benefit ofshorter onset and longer duration