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. 2021 Jan 2;4(1):40-46.
doi: 10.1002/ame2.12143. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Tiletamine/zolazepam and dexmedetomidine with tramadol provide effective general anesthesia in rats

Vudhiporn Limprasutr  1   2 , Patrick Sharp  3 , Katechan Jampachaisri  4 , Cholawat Pacharinsak  5 , Sumit Durongphongtorn  6
Affiliations

Tiletamine/zolazepam and dexmedetomidine with tramadol provide effective general anesthesia in rats

Vudhiporn Limprasutr et al. Animal Model Exp Med. .

Abstract

Background: Tiletamine/zolazepam is a dissociative anesthetic combination commonly used in small animals but information is limited in rats. The alpha-2 agonist, dexmedetomidine, has gained popularity in laboratory animal anesthesia. Tramadol is a weak opioid mu agonist. The aim of this study was to assess whether the tiletamine/zolazepam/dexmedetomidine (ZD) combination effectively provides a surgical anesthesia plane comparable to tiletamine/zolazepam/dexmedetomidine with tramadol (ZDT) in a minor procedure in rats.

Methods: Rats were induced with ZD or ZDT. After the loss of paw withdrawal, a small incision was made on the rats' left thighs as a surgical stimulus. Rats were maintained under a surgical anesthesia plane by assessing the loss of the paw withdrawal reflex for 45 minutes, then atipamezole was administered. Monitored anesthesia parameters included: (a) physiological parameters - pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR), tissue oxygen saturation (%SpO2), and body temperature; (b) duration parameters - induction time, onset and duration of surgical anesthesia plane, onset of recovery, and recovery time.

Results: PR was significantly lower at 10 minutes in ZD and 5 minutes in ZDT groups. No difference was observed for RR, %SpO2, and body temperature. Likewise, there were no differences for duration parameters: induction time was less than 3 minutes; onset and duration of surgical anesthesia plane were approximately 5 and 45 minutes, respectively; onset of recovery (time to move) was 51 minutes; and recovery time was 52 minutes, respectively.

Conclusion: These data suggest the ZD combination provides a surgical anesthesia plane comparable to ZDT in a rat incisional pain model.

Keywords: anesthesia; dexmedetomidine; rats; tiletamine; tramadol.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Pulse rate (bpm; mean ± SEM) in ZD and ZDT groups. *Significantly different value (P < .05) from 5 min after drug administration (baseline) value for the same treatment group
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Respiratory rate (breaths/min; mean ± SEM) in ZD and ZDT groups
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Tissue oxygen saturation (%SpO2; mean ± SEM) in ZD and ZDT groups
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Body temperature (°C; mean ± SEM) in ZD and ZDT groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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