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Inhibition of drug metabolism by blocking the activation of nuclear receptors by ketoconazole.

Individual variation in drug metabolism is a major cause of unpredictable side effects during therapy. Drug metabolism is controlled by a class of orphan nuclear receptors (NRs), which regulate expression of genes such as CYP (cytochrome)3A4 and MDR-1 (multi-drug resistance-1), that are involved in this process. We have found that xenobiotic-mediated induction of CYP3A4 and MDR-1 gene transcription was inhibited by ketoconazole, a commonly used antifungal drug. Ketoconazole mediated its effect by inhibiting the activation of NRs, human pregnenolone X receptor and constitutive androstene receptor, involved in regulation of CYP3A4 and MDR-1. The effect of ketoconazole was specific to the group of NRs that control xenobiotic metabolism. Ketoconazole disrupted the interaction of the xenobiotic receptor PXR with the co-activator steroid receptor co-activator-1. Ketoconazole treatment resulted in delayed metabolism of tribromoethanol anesthetic in mice, which was correlated to the inhibition of PXR activation and downmodulation of cyp3a11 and mdr-1 genes and proteins. These studies demonstrate for the first time that ketoconazole represses the coordinated activation of genes involved in drug metabolism, by blocking activation of a specific subset of NRs. Our results suggest that ketoconazole can be used as a pan-antagonist of NRs involved in xenobiotic metabolism in vivo, which may lead to novel strategies that improve drug effect and tolerance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Pressure-independent enhancement of cardiac hypertrophy in atrial natriuretic peptide-deficient mice.

1. Homozygous deletion of the pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (Nppa) gene (ANP-/-) has been associated with both cardiac hypertrophy and salt-sensitive hypertension in mice, suggesting that cardiac hypertrophy in ANP-/- mice may be related, at least in part, to increased afterload. 2. To test the hypothesis that cardiac hypertrophy in ANP-/- mice is independent of blood pressure, male ANP-/- and wild-type ANP+/+ mice were fed a low (0.05%) or basal (0.55%) NaCl diet. Five weeks later, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured in conscious mice; the whole heart, atria, left and right ventricles (LV and RV, respectively), brain, lung, kidney, liver and spleen were weighed and fixed for histological analysis. Separate groups of mice were subjected to echocardiographic examination under tribromoethanol anaesthesia. 3. Mean arterial pressure and atrial, LV and RV mass were greater in ANP-/- mice than in ANP+/+ mice fed the basal salt diet. Salt depletion equalized MAP in the two genotypes, but did not alter the relative cardiac hypertrophy in ANP-/- mice. The ANP-/- mice had significant LV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy when fed either basal or low-salt diets. 4. Left ventricle chamber dimensions did not differ between genotypes, but were significantly reduced in mice fed the low-salt diet; LV posterior wall and septal thickness were greater in ANP-/- than ANP+/+ mice and were not altered by diet, indicating a concentric pattern of LV hypertrophy in ANP-/- mice. Left ventricle function (cardiac output, stroke volume, ejection fraction, circumferential wall stress and velocity of circumferential wall shortening) did not differ between strains on either diet; circumferential wall stress was reduced in the low-salt groups; other functional parameters were not altered by diet. 5. These findings indicate that ANP deletion results in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and biventricular hypertrophy independent of blood pressure, supporting the concept that ANP has direct antihypertrophic effects in the heart.

Animals↗

An essential role for nuclear receptors SXR/PXR in detoxification of cholestatic bile acids.

Hepatic hydroxylation is an essential step in the metabolism and excretion of bile acids and is necessary to avoid pathologic conditions such as cholestasis and liver damage. In this report, we demonstrate that the human xenobiotic receptor SXR (steroid and xenobiotic receptor) and its rodent homolog PXR (pregnane X receptor) serve as functional bile acid receptors in both cultured cells and animals. In particular, the secondary bile acid derivative lithocholic acid (LCA) is highly hepatotoxic and, as we show here, a metabolic substrate for CYP3A hydroxylation. By using combinations of knockout and transgenic animals, we show that activation of SXR/PXR is necessary and sufficient to both induce CYP3A enzymes and confer resistance to toxicity by LCA, as well as other xenotoxicants such as tribromoethanol and zoxazolamine. Therefore, we establish SXR and PXR as bile acid receptors and a role for the xenobiotic response in the detoxification of bile acids.

Animals↗

Influence of anaesthetic agent on limb abnormalities observed following amniotic sac puncture.

In all of our previous studies into the effect of amniotic sac puncture (ASP) carried out on day 13 of pregnancy in mice, we have used intraperitoneal Avertin (tribromoethanol) as the general anaesthetic. In the present study, we used an inhalational anaesthetic (a mixture of halothane, oxygen and nitrous oxide in a ratio of 2:3:3). The principal difference between these two regimens is that even under optimal post-operative conditions when Avertin is used it can take between 45 and 90 min before complete recovery is achieved; when the inhalational anaesthetic is used, complete recovery is usually achieved within about 3-5 min. Because the experimental conditions were otherwise identical, this allowed the influence of the anaesthetic employed during ASP and the incidence of abnormalities induced on survival rate to day 19 of pregnancy to be studied. The survival rate was slightly higher when the inhalational anaesthetic was used, as was the incidence of limb abnormalities, although the overall incidence of gross abnormalities involving the palate, limbs and tail was not significantly different. The most marked difference, however, was in the incidence of syndactyly, which was significantly lower when the inhalational compared to the intraperitoneal anaesthetic was used: 26.6% v. 70.2% of the abnormal limbs analysed. A possible hypothesis is presented to explain this difference.

Amnion↗

A mouse model of graded contusive spinal cord injury.

A mouse model of spinal cord injury (SCI) could further increase our basic understanding of the mechanisms involved in injury and recovery by taking advantage of naturally-occurring and genetically engineered mutations available in mice. We have, therefore, investigated whether methods used to produce and evaluate graded experimental contusive SCI in the rat could be modified to produce a mouse model of traumatic SCI. C57BL6 mice were anesthetized with 2,2,2-tribromoethanol and a restricted laminectomy performed at the T8 vertebral level. The spinal column was stabilized and a weight drop technique used to produce contusive injury. Experimental groups were distinguished by the amount of weight or the height from which the weight was dropped onto an impounder resting on the dura (1 g x 2.5 cm, 2 g x 2.5 cm, 3 g x 2.5 cm, and 3 g x 5.0 cm). Functional deficits over time were examined up to 28 days after SCI by testing hindlimb reflex responses and coordinated motor function. Chronic lesion histopathology was evaluated by light microscopy and analyzed with morphometric techniques. All groups demonstrated profound functional deficits after injury followed by gradual recovery. Recovery correlated with the weight dropped and percent of white matter spared that was 41.3+/-6.0% (mean +/- SEM) in the 2 g x 2.5 cm group and 24.3+/-5.0% in the 3 g x 2.5 cm group. A replicate experiment confirmed reproducibility of the injury. This new mouse model of contusive SCI could pave the way for in vivo studies of the effect of genetic modifications produced by specific mutations on injury and recovery processes after spinal cord trauma.

Animals↗

Thermogenesis inhibition in brown adipocytes is a specific property of volatile anesthetics.

BACKGROUND: This investigation examined the possibility that the inhibitory effect of halothane on nonshivering thermogenesis (heat production) in brown adipocytes is not a universal effect of all anesthetic agents but related to the type of anesthetic. METHODS: Brown adipocytes from hamster were isolated with a collagenase digestion method and incubated with anesthetic agents. The rate of oxygen consumption was measured with an oxygen electrode. The effect of clinically relevant (and higher) doses of anesthetics of different classes on basal and norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis (oxygen consumption) was tested. RESULTS: Two distinct groups of anesthetics could be distinguished: thermogenesis inhibitors and noninhibitors. Thermogenesis inhibitors include volatile anesthetics such as halothane (IC(50), 1.1 mm), ether (IC(50), 20 mm), and chloroform (IC(50), 2.2 mm) (nominal concentrations), but also tribromoethanol (IC(50), 0.6 mm), all inducing inhibition of norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis without affecting the EC for norepinephrine. Thermogenesis noninhibitors include the nonvolatile anesthetics pentobarbital, propofol, ketamine, and urethane, the inhalation anesthetic nitrous oxide, and, notably, also the volatile nonanesthetics (nonimmobilizers) 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane and 2,3-dichlorooctafluorobutane; none of these compounds had any effect on norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis at any concentration tested. CONCLUSIONS: There are two distinct classes of anesthetics with regard to effects on thermogenesis, thermogenesis inhibitors and thermogenesis noninhibitors. The results are important for the interpretation of studies in thermal biology in general; specifically, they indicate that conclusions concerning regulation of nonshivering thermogenesis during anesthesia depend on the type of anesthetic used. Of clinical importance is that the volatile anesthetics are inhibitory for nonshivering thermogenesis and thus for an alternative heat production when myorelaxants prevent shivering. As the distinction between thermogenesis inhibitors and thermogenesis noninhibitors corresponds to the distinction between volatile and nonvolatile anesthetics, it may be related to the mode of action of the volatile anesthetics.

Adipocytes↗

The kinetic mechanism of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase.

The relations between the kinetic parameters for both sorbitol oxidation and fructose reduction by sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase show that a Theorell-Chance compulsory order mechanism operates from pH 7.4 to 9.9. This is supported by many parallels with the kinetics of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, which operates by this classical mechanism. An isotope-exchange study using D-(2H8)sorbitol confirmed the existence of ternary complexes and that, under maximum velocity conditions, their interconversion is not rate-determining. Substrate inhibition at high concentrations of D-sorbitol or D-fructose confirmed rate-determining enzyme--coenzyme product dissociation, slowed by the existence of more stable abortive ternary enzyme-coenzyme product complexes with substrate. The effect of the inhibitor/activator 2,2,2-tribromoethanol showed the existence of enzyme-NAD-CBr3CH2OH complexes inhibiting the first phase of reaction and enzyme-NADH-CBr3CH2OH complexes dissociating more rapidly than the usual rate-determining enzyme-NADH coenzyme product dissociation in the final phase. Inhibition studies with dithiothreitol also confirmed an ordered binding of coenzymes and second substrates to sorbitol dehydrogenase. Neither D-sorbitol nor D-fructose had any effect on enzyme inactivation by the affinity labelling reagent DL-2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid, thus giving no evidence for their existence as binary enzyme-substrate complexes. Several alternative polyol substrates for sorbitol dehydrogenase gave the same maximum velocity as sorbitol. This indicated a common rate-limiting binary enzyme-NADH product dissociation and a similarity of mechanism. An enzyme assay for pH 7.0 and 9.9 is given which enables the concentration of sorbitol dehydrogenase to be determined from initial rate measurements of enzyme activity.

Animals↗

Modification of the responses of brain stem neurones to transmitter substances by anaesthetic agents.

1. The effects of microiontophoretic applications of acetylcholine (ACh), (-)-noradrenaline ((-)-NA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) have been investigated on spontaneously active brain stem neurones in decerebrate unanaesthetized rats and in rats anaesthetized with either tribromoethanol, urethane or pentobarbitone.2. Four types of responses to both (-)-NA and 5-HT were seen. These were: simple excitation; excitation preceded by a short-lasting inhibition; short-lasting inhibition and prolonged inhibition. Three types of responses to ACh were seen: an excitation with long latency of onset; excitation with short latency of onset, resembling the response to an excitant amino acid, and a short-lasting inhibitory response.3. The types of responses to microiontophoretically applied ACh, (-)-NA or 5-HT in anaesthetized and unanaesthetized animals were similar.4. The number of ACh excitatory responses with short latency of onset were significantly reduced in the pentobarbitone-anaesthetized group and a small but significant increase in the number of 5-HT inhibitory effects were observed in each anaesthetized group of animals.5. A significantly greater proportion of slower firing neurones (less than 10 spikes/s) were found in the pentobarbitone-anaesthetized animals.6. The effects of microiontophoretically applied and i.v. administered pentobarbitone were studied on spontaneously active neurones which responded consistently to ACh and a control agonist.7. Pentobarbitone administered by either route reduced the firing rate of most neurones studied and was shown to antagonize specifically the excitation of neurones by exogenously applied ACh.8. It is suggested that postsynaptic antagonism of endogenously released ACh may be a contributing factor in the mechanism of action of pentobarbitone.

Acetylcholine↗

Effects of anesthesia on diastolic function in mice assessed by echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic echocardiography is the predominant diagnostic tool to evaluate systolic and diastolic cardiac function noninvasively in mice. It is known that systolic function is substantially influenced by anesthetic agents used for sedation during echocardiography. However, the effect on diastolic function has not been investigated yet. The following study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different agents on diastolic left ventricular function in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of ketamine/xylazine (K/X), ketamine/midazolam (K/M), and tribromoethanol (TBE, Avertin) on diastolic function was measured 5, 15, and 25 minutes after the onset of anesthesia. Ratio of peak early-to-late myocardial diastolic velocities (Ea/Aa; determined by tissue Doppler imaging; TDI), ratio of peak transmitral early (E)- and late-diastolic velocity (E/A), deceleration time (DT), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) correlated significantly with heart rate (HR). Overall, increasing HR contributed to a decrease of E/A-, Ea/Aa ratio, IVRT, and DT, whereas agents characterized by the strongest variation of HR (K/M and TBE) were associated with the greatest effect on diastolic function. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular diastolic function in mice, determined by echocardiography, is dependent on anesthetic agent and timing of measurements after onset of anesthesia.

Anesthetics↗

Impact of anesthesia on cardiac function during echocardiography in mice.

Anesthetics provide sedation and immobility facilitating echocardiography in mice, but influence cardiac function. We studied the effects of intraperitoneal and inhaled anesthetic agents on echocardiographic measurements. Mice were anesthetized with intraperitoneal tribromoethanol (TBE), ketamine-midazolam (K/M), ketamine-xylazine (K/X), or inhaled isoflurane (Isf), and echocardiographic parameters were assessed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. In C57BL/6N mice, Isf produced high initial heart rates (HR) that decreased to levels comparable to TBE at 15-20 min (approximately 450 beats/min) and the most stable percent fractional shortening (%FS) and end-diastolic dimension (EDD). With TBE, %FS initially was low, but increased comparable to Isf (approximately 45%) at 15 min. K/M produced similar time trends but lower absolute values compared with TBE for all parameters. K/X produced cardiac depression evidenced by low HR and %FS, and increased EDD. Isf was the most reproducible in repeat studies at 12 days. In C57BL/6J compared with C57BL/6N mice, K/M produced higher HR, and %FS and TBE produced smaller EDD. In conclusion, anesthetic agent, timing of echocardiographic measurements, and genetic background are all critical variables during echocardiography in mice.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Susceptibility to sarcomere injury induced by single stretches of maximally activated muscles of mdx mice.

The purpose was to investigate the contribution of mechanical damage to sarcomeres to the greater susceptibility of dystrophic muscle fibers to contraction-induced injury. Single stretches provide an effective method for studying mechanical factors that contribute to the initiation of contraction-induced injury. We hypothesized that, after single stretches, the deficits in isometric force would be greater for muscles of mdx than C57BL/10 mice, whereas membrane damage would be minimal for all muscles. Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles of mice were removed under anesthesia with Avertin (tribromoethanol). During the plateau of a maximum isometric contraction in vitro, muscles were stretched through single strains of 20-60% fiber length. Isometric force was remeasured 1 min later, and muscles were then incubated in procion orange dye to identify fibers with membrane damage. Force deficits at 1 min were two- to threefold greater for EDL muscles of mdx compared with C57BL/10 mice, whereas no significant differences were observed between soleus muscles of mdx and C57BL/10 mice. For all muscles, membrane damage was minimal and not significantly increased by single stretches for either strain of mice. These data support a critical role of dystrophin maintaining sarcomere stability in EDL muscles, whereas soleus muscles retain abilities, in the absence of dystrophin, not different from control muscles to resist sarcomere damage.

Animals↗

Toxic effects of methoxychlor on the episodic prolactin secretory pattern: possible mediated effects of nitric oxide production.

BACKGROUND: This work addresses the issue of whether methoxychlor (MTX) exposure may modify the ultradian secretion of prolactin through changes in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) induced by Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Associated changes in dopamine (DA) content in the anterior (AH), mediobasal (MBH) and posterior hypothalamus (PH) and median eminence (ME) were evaluated. METHODS: Two groups of animals (MTX and MTX+L-NAME treated) received subcutaneous (sc) injections of MTX at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day for one month. The other two groups of animals (control and L-NAME treated) received sc vehicle injections (0.5 mL/day of sesame oil), during the same period of time to be used as controls. Forty hours before the day of the experiment, animals were anaesthetized with intrapritoneal injections of 2.5% tribromoethanol in saline and atrial cannulas were implanted through the external jugular vein. Plasma was continuously extracted in Hamilton syringes coupled to a peristaltic bomb in tubes containing phosphate-gelatine buffer (to increase viscosity). The plasma was obtained by decantation and kept every 7 minutes for the measurement of plasma prolactin levels through a specific radioimmnunoassay and DA concentration by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Prolactin release in animals from all experimental groups analyzed was episodic. Mean plasma prolactin levels during the bleeding period, and the absolute pulse amplitude were increased after MTX or Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) administration. However MTX and L-NAME did not modify any other parameter studied with the exception of relative pulse amplitude in MTX treated rats. L-NAME administration to rats treated with the pesticide reduced mean plasma prolactin levels and the absolute amplitude of prolactin peaks. Peak duration, frequency and relative amplitude of prolactin peaks were not changed in the group of rats treated with MTX plus L-NAME as compared to either control or MTX treated rats. Whereas MTX decreased DA content in the ME and increased it in the AH, its content did not change in the MBH or PH, as compared to the values found in controls. Also, L-NAME administration decreased DA content in the ME as compared to controls. However, L- NAME administration to MTX exposed rats, markedly increased DA content in the ME as compared to either MTX treated or control rats. L-NAME administration increased DA content in the AH as compared to the values found in non-treated rats. However L-NAME administration to MTX exposed rats did not modify DA content as compared to either MTX treated or control rats. L-NAME administration did not modify DA content at the MBH nor in saline treated nor in MTX treated rats. However, the values of DA in the MBH in MTX plus L-NAME treated animals were statistically decreased as compared to L-NAME treated rats. In the PH, L-NAME administration increased DA content as compared to the values found in non-treated animals. L-NAME administration to MTX exposed rats also increased DA content as compared to either MTX treated or control rats. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the existence of an interaction between MTX and L-NAME in the modulation of the ultradian prolactin secretion at the pituitary levels. The possibility of an indirect effect mediated by changes in DA content at the ME requires further examination.

Journal Article↗

Alterations during the estrous cycle in the responsiveness of the pituitary to subcutaneous administration of synthetic LH-releasing hormone (LHRH).

To further evaluate the alterations in responsiveness of the pituitary to synthetic LHRH during the proestrous discharge of gonadotropins, LHRH was given SC in the hope of producing a release of FSH as well as LH, and blood samples were removed prior to and at various intervals after the injections of the neurohormone while the rats were anesthetized with tribromoethanol. The procedure of anesthesia and blood sampling produced small declines in both FSH and LH, but these only achieved significance in the case of FSH on the morning of estrus and diestrus day 2. An increase in plasma LH occurred in response to LHRH at all stages of the estrous cycle but was minimal during diestrus. The increment in plasma LH was already increased by 9 AM on proestrus and the titer remained elevated for 2 h. A further increase in response to LHRH occured at 2 PM associated with an increase in initial plasma LH. The maximum response occurred at 5 PM together with maximal initial plasma LH, and the characteristics of the response changed such that there was a much larger increase in plasma LH at 20 min and a rapid decline thereafter, so that the response became pulselike. Initial plasma LH had already declined significantly by 9 PM, and this was associated with a dimished pulselike release of LH in response to LHRH. By the morning of estrus, an even smaller pulse-like release occurred. Significant FSH release in response to LHRH occurred at all stages of the cycle as indicated by the increments in plasma FSH. The relative increase in plasma titers was much less than that for LH and responsiveness to LHRH did not increase until 5 PM on proestrus. Responsiveness had already begun to decline by 9 PM on proestrus and by the morning of estrus was similar to that obtained on diestrus. Initial plasma FSH titers were first elevated by 2 PM on proestrus and they remained elevated on the morning of estrus. The results indicate that maximal responsiveness to LHRH in terms of LH release is associated with the proestrous discharge of LH, but that the maximal responsiveness in terms of FSH release terminates long before the endogenous release of hormone ceases sometime on estrus. The increased responsiveness in terms of LH release may be related to prior estrogen secretion and to the priming action of endogenous LHRH. The continued release of FSH in the face of a return of responsiveness to LHRH to low levels indicates that release of FSH on late proestrus and early estrus is not caused by endogenous release to LHRH.

Animals↗

Murine models of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.

The animal model of chronic bronchopulmonary infection using agarose beads laden with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently utilized in cystic fibrosis research, though it is challenging to perform it in mice. This paper reports the most successful methods for the creation of this model. Transtracheal insertion of a 22 G 1" over-the-needle intravenous catheter to preferentially inoculate the right mainstem bronchus using tribromoethanol anaesthesia administered i.p. was better for a successful surgical outcome compared, respectively, to the use of a 27 G (1/2)" needle, bilateral inoculation or an anaesthetic cocktail of xylazine, acepromazine and ketamine administered i.p. Bilateral infection was associated with higher mortality, greater weight loss and higher levels of bronchoalveolar cytokine concentration, compared to mice infected primarily in the right lung. Mucoid clinical strain PA M57-15 was preferred since mucoid clinical strain PA 2192 led to comparatively more severe lesions and higher mortality. Using the same operator for a given task reduced the variability inherent in this model, illustrated using outcome measures such as gross lung pathology. The response of mice inoculated with P. aeruginosa-laden agarose beads was characterized by bronchopulmonary inflammation, high production of cytokines, and significant weight loss; whereas the response to infection with free-living bacteria was characterized by pneumonia, lower production of cytokines and weight loss. The use of free P. aeruginosa pre-mixed with sterile agarose beads may be considered as an alternative to the use of P. aeruginosa-laden agarose beads, since the histopathological features were similar, though further characterization is needed to evaluate its utility as an adequate model of cystic fibrosis.

Animals↗

Exposure to warmer postoperative temperatures reduces hypothermia caused by anaesthesia and significantly increases the implantation rate of transferred embryos in the mouse.

Embryo transfer (ET) is among the key factors determining the overall efficiency of transgenic technology in the mouse. A successful ET depends among other factors on the quality of the transferred embryos, foster mothers and anaesthetic reagents and on the transfer techniques. Anaesthesia-caused deaths and suboptimal ET procedures are factors which reduce the success of transgenic experiments and mouse colony maintenance. Here we compared the effects of two anaesthetic reagents-a ketamine/xylazine combination, and tribromoethanol (Avertin)-on the rates of implantation and development to term of mouse zygotes transferred into the oviducts of CD-1 foster mothers, and evaluated whether hypothermia caused by anaesthetics after the ET operation could be overcome by postoperative incubation of the foster mothers. We established two experimental groups of fosters, one of which was kept at room temperature (RT, 21 degrees C) with the other in an incubator (33 degrees C) overnight after ET. Rates of implantation, resorption and development to normal fetuses were evaluated by sacrificing the foster mothers on the 15th day of their pregnancy. Our results showed that regardless of the anaesthetic reagents used, the rates of implantation and of development to normal fetuses can be significantly improved by exposing the foster mothers to warmer temperatures (33 degrees C) immediately after the ET operation. These results may have important implications in increasing the success rate of ET with micromanipulated embryos.

Anesthetics↗

Metomidate, etomidate and fentanyl as injectable anaesthetic agents in mice.

Light surgical anaesthesia lasting 12-15 min was produced by metomidate at 50 mg/kg and by etomidate at 30 mg/kg after intraperitoneal injection. Full surgical anaesthesia lasting about 160 min was achieved after subcutaneous injection of a metomidate-fentanyl mixture (60 mg/kg: 0.06 mg/kg) and this proved superior to etomidate-fentanyl given subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. It was concluded that metomidate-fentanyl is superior to pentobarbitone and tribromoethanol as an injectable anaesthetic for mice.

Anesthesia, General↗

The effects of different anaesthetic agents on the estimation of uterine vascular permeability in mice.

Vascular permeability in the uterus and other tissues of mice was assessed using the accumulation of 125I-human serum albumin 30 min after its intravenous injection. The anaesthetic agent employed for the 125I-albumin injection differentially affected the estimates of vascular permeability: intraperitoneal (i.p.) tribromoethanol of pentobarbitone sodium produced significantly higher values for the uterus and body wall than ether. The i.p. administration of either Saffan or pentobarbitone sodium reduced estimates of vascular permeability in the duodenum. These results emphasize the importance of the choosing a suitable anaesthetic agent in vascular studies of the uterus and other abdominal tissues.

Alfaxalone Alfadolone Mixture↗

Intraluminally injected oil induces changes in vascular permeability in the 'sensitized' and 'non-sensitized' uterus of the mouse.

After suitable sensitization of ovariectomized mice with progesterone and oestradiol, the intrauterine instillation of oil produces a massive decidual cell reaction. Vascular permeability, as reflected by the extra-vascular accumulation of 125I-labelled human serum albumin, increased after oil instillation and was maintained at 2-3 times control values for at least the next 3 days. Although oil instillation did not produce a decidual response in females treated with progesterone alone, an increase in vascular permeability (about 2 times control levels) still occurred. This response peaked 8 h after oil instillation and was not maintained. These results indicate that the progesterone-dominated uterus which has not been sensitized with oestradiol cannot be viewed as completely unresponsive to the stimulus of oil and demonstrate that a marked increase in vascular permeability is not itself sufficient to induce decidualization of progesterone-dominated uterine stromal cells. The uterine extravascular accumulation of 125I-labelled albumin was increased both in association with tribromoethanol anaesthesia and after oestradiol treatment of progesterone-primed animals. In pregnant mice, the appearance of Pontamine Sky Blue spots provided an earlier indication of implantation than did determination of total uterine extravascular 125I-labelled albumin accumulation.

Animals↗