Laboratory Animals > Volume 42, Number 4 > Pp. 483-488

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The effect of ketamine/xylazine and carbon dioxide on plasma luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and testosterone concentrations in the male Norway rat

E M Gould 

Health and Food Sector, HortResearch, East Street, PB 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand

Email: egould{at}hortresearch.co.nz

The effect of a commonly used anaesthetic, ketamine/xylazine and/or carbon dioxide (CO₂) on plasma luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and testosterone concentrations was determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats. These values were compared with values obtained from pre-anaesthetic control samples. Ketamine/xylazine treatment did not significantly affect testosterone concentrations. In contrast, LHRH started to decrease one hour after ketamine/xylazine administration and continued to significantly decrease after 24 h. In addition, in the CO₂ euthanasia-only group, LHRH concentrations were also significantly decreased. These results suggest that ketamine/xylazine anaesthesia followed by CO₂ euthanasia 24 h later is exerting a significant effect on LHRH concentrations 24 h after anaesthetizing, while only having a slight effect on testosterone, and that CO₂ is exerting an immediate significant effect on LHRH. In conclusion, LHRH analysis should be avoided after ketamine/xylazine anaesthesia and CO₂ euthanasia.

Key Words: Animal welfare • ketamine/xylazine • luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) • male Norway rat • testosterone

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