EFFECT OF GENERAL-ANESTHETICS ON HANDLING-INDUCED AND DECAPITATION-INDUCED INCREASES IN SYMPATHOADRENAL DISCHARGE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 204  (1) , 11-18
Abstract
The effect of cyclopropane, pentobarbital, urethane, chloralose or ketamine hydrochloride on handling- or decapitation-induced increases in adrenergic tone were studied in the intact rat. The anesthetic agents tested prevented or markedly reduced stress-induced increases in levels of plasma total catechoalmines and norepinephrine. Similar changes in norepinephrine were seen in corticosterone-treated adrenalectomized rats in which this catecholamine seemed to be the only one present in plasma. During cyclopropane anesthesia, bood pressure fell; there was no additional decrease in total plasma catecholamines when concentration of the inhaled anesthetic agent was increased. With increased length of cyclopropane anesthesia total catecholamine and norepinephrine concentrations increased. Different effects of anesthetics on the cardiovascular system cannot be solely explained by their effects on stress-induced increases in sympathetic neuronal activity as reflected by circulating catecholamine levels.