Ketamine as an Anesthetic for Obtaining Plasma for Rat Prolactin Assays

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Abstract
Mean plasma prolactin levels obtained from male rats following ketamine anesthesia, decapitation or via indwelling venous catheters were not significantly different although a larger variance was found in the samples obtained via catheters. Ketamine, at anesthetic doses, did not affect the increases in prolactin produced by reserpine or .alpha.-methylparatyrosine. Ketamine, at various doses, did not potentiate the effect of subthreshold doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan on prolactin secretion. Ketamine appears to be a suitable anesthetic for use in studies of prolactin secretion in male rats. Further studies in female rats are required.