Anesthetics can affect the structure and
biological function of tissues and systems differentially. The aim of the present study was to compare three
injectable anesthetics generally used in experiments with animals in terms of the degree of
hemolysis and glycogenolysis occurring after profound
anesthesia. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (330-440 g) were divided into three groups (N = 8):
chloral hydrate (CH),
ketamine +
xylazine (KX),
Zoletil 50(R) (
zolazepam and
tiletamine) +
xylazine (ZTX). After deep
anesthesia, total blood was collected. The liver and white (WG) and red gastrocnemius (RG) muscles were also immediately removed. The degree of serum
hemolysis was quantified on the basis of
hemoglobin concentration (g/L). Hepatic and muscular
glycogen concentrations (mmol/kg wet tissue) were quantified by the
phenol-sulfuric method. The CH and KX groups exhibited serum
hemolysis (4.0 +/- 2.2 and 1.9 +/- 0.9 g/L, respectively; P < 0.05) compared to the ZTX group, which presented none. Only KX induced elevated glycogenolysis (mmol/kg wet tissue) in the liver (86.9 +/- 63.2) and in WG (18.7 +/- 9.0) and RG (15.2 +/- 7.2; P < 0.05). The CH and ZTX groups exhibited no glycogenolysis in the liver (164.4 +/- 41.1 and 176.8 +/- 54.4, respectively), WG (28.8 +/- 4.4, 32.0 +/- 6.5, respectively) or RG (29.0 +/- 4.9; 25.3 +/- 8.6, respectively). Our data indicate that ZTX seems to be an appropriate
general anesthetic for studies that seek to simultaneously quantify the concentration of
glycogen and serum
biochemical markers without interferences. ZTX is reasonably priced, found easily at veterinary markets, quickly induces deep
anesthesia, and presents a low mortality rate.