Comparison of the anesthetic effect by the injection route of mixed anesthesia (medetomidine, midazolam and butorphanol) and the effect of this anesthetic agent on the respiratory function.

Recently, a mixture of medetomidine, midazolam and butorphanol (MMB) has been used as an injectable general anesthetic agent for laboratory animals. The purpose of this study was to establish data to encourage practical usage of MMB, and to clarify the effects of MMB on the respiratory function in rats. To compare the anesthetic efficacy between the injection routes, the anesthetic effects of MMB by subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection were evaluated in rats. To assess the respiratory function, the blood gas parameters and electrolytes were assessed in serial venous blood samples collected from before s.c. injection of MMB to 270 min after the injection. Recovery from anesthesia and the respiratory changes after atipamezole injection at 30 min after MMB injection was also examined. Subcutaneous injection of MMB was associated with more rapid induction and a longer duration of anesthesia as compared to i.p. injection. The blood gas analysis findings showed MMB had effects on respiratory function, that is, elevations of the partial pressures of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate and reduction of the blood pH. Atipamezole injection resulted in recovery from the MMB-induced anesthetic effect as well as respiratory depression. In conclusion, MMB provides more effective anesthesia administered by s.c. injection compared to i.p. injection and induces respiratory change. These changes were counteracted by atipamezole. Therefore, we recommend MMB administered by s.c. injection for anesthesia, followed by injection of atipamezole after the operative procedure to allow recovery.

Serum S100B, brain edema, and hematoma formation in a rat model of collagenase-induced hemorrhagic stroke.

S100B, a 21-kD Ca(2+) binding protein expressed in Schwann cells and astroglia, has often been reported as a promising biomarker for ischemic stroke. In addition to ischemic stroke, the peripheral S100B level may also be useful as a biomarker for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the kinetics and characterization of peripheral S100B in patients or experimental animal models with ICH have not been carefully examined. The present study investigated the kinetics and characteristics of the serum S100B level in a rat collagenase-induced ICH model. The serum S100B kinetics and the time-course of brain edema and hematoma formation were examined. Then, the correlations between the elevated serum S100B level and brain edema or hematoma formation were investigated. A transient elevation of serum S100B that peaked at 6 h after ICH induction was observed. The single measurement of serum S100B at 6 h after ICH induction was significantly correlated with brain edema formation and the maximal extent of the hematoma volumes. These results suggest the significance of serum S100B as a biomarker of brain damage resulting from ICH.