Effect of decapitation and stress on some plasma electrolyte levels in rats

Conahan, S T; Narayan, S.; Vogel, Wolfgang

doi:10.1016/0091-3057(85)90143-1

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…For instance, decapitation results in significantly lower plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels compared to euthanasia by anesthesia, in rodents . Some studies, however, report that decapitation may increase plasma electrolyte levels and that both decapitation and gaseous anaesthetics may produce a significant rise in the levels of circulating catecholamines . it has also been reported that decapitation may increase the levels of plasma electrolytes and that both decapitation and gaseous anaesthetics may produce a significant rise in the levels of circulating catecholamines .…”

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The Choice of Euthanasia Method Affects Metabolic Serum Biomarkers

Pierozan

Jernerén

Ransome

et al. 2017

Basic Clin Pharma Tox

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The impact of euthanasia methods on endocrine and metabolic parameters in rodent tissues and biological fluids is highly relevant for the accuracy and reliability of the data collected. However, few studies concerning this issue are found in the literature. We compared the effects of three euthanasia methods currently used in animal experimentation (i.e. decapitation, CO2 inhalation and pentobarbital injection) on the serum levels of corticosterone, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and a range of free fatty acids in rats. The corticosterone and insulin levels were not significantly affected by the euthanasia protocol used. However, euthanasia by an overdose of pentobarbital (120 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) increased the serum levels of glucose, and decreased cholesterol, stearic and arachidonic acids levels compared with euthanasia by CO2 inhalation and decapitation. CO2 inhalation appears to increase the serum levels of triglycerides, while euthanasia by decapitation induced no individual discrepant biomarker level. We conclude that choice of the euthanasia methods is critical for the reliability of serum biomarkers and indicate the importance of selecting adequate euthanasia methods for metabolic analysis in rodents. Decapitation without anaesthesia may be the most adequate method of euthanasia when taking both animal welfare and data quality in consideration.

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confidence: 99%