Effect of Ether Anesthesia on the Cardiac Output, Blood Pressure, and Distribution of Blood Flow in the Albino Rat

Abstract

Rats anesthetized with ethyl ether were compared with rats anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital from the standpoint of cardiac output, peripheral resistance and regional blood flow. Cardiac output was measured by the indicator-dilution technic; regional blood flow was determined by the indicator-fractionation technic employing Rb 86 or I 131 -antipyrine. The cardiac output is one and a half times as great in ether anesthesia as in pentobarbital anesthesia; the peripheral resistance is about two-thirds as great with ether. Compared to pentobarbital, ether increases myocardial, cerebral, and carcass blood flow, while decreasing renal, splanchnic and cutaneous blood flow. The pronounced difference in the cardiovascular effects of the two agents indicates the need for caution in the interpretation of experiments in which cardiovascular measurements are made under anesthesia.

The Role of Cardiac N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in Heart Conditioning—Effects on Heart Function and Oxidative Stress

“…Short-term ether anesthesia was chosen in sacrificing the animal to minimize the effects of anesthetics on heart function. Given that diethyl ether possess less cardiodepressant action compared to pentobarbital, we opted for the use of ether [25]. Following urgent thoracotomy, the hearts were promptly excised and attached to the Langendorff apparatus via aortic cannulation.…”