Sucrose and alcohol are rewarding and appetitive. They are occasionally over-consumed and cause addiction. The parabrachial nuclei (PbN) are the second taste relay in the central taste pathway. The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is an important neural substrate in the reward system. Intake of sucrose or alcohol induces dopamine release in the NAcc. Although alcohol is not classified as a taste stimulus, a substantial number of sucrose-responsive neurons in the PbN respond to stimulation by alcohol on the tongue. In the present study, we investigated whether or not application of 0.5 M sucrose, 10% ethanol (EtOH), mixture of sucrose and EtOH, and double-distilled water (DDW) to the tongue induces c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (cFLI) in the PbN and NAcc. We also examined whether or not the number of cFLI following sucrose/EtOH is comparable to the number of cFLIs following sucrose and EtOH, respectively. Male Sprague-Dwaley rat was anesthetized with a mixture of Zoletil and Rompun while stimulation solution was applied to the anterior tongue. The rat was sacrificed by perfusion, and the fixed brain was sectioned and immunostained. Data from a total of 18 animals were analyzed. The number of cFLI following stimulation with sucrose and/or EtOH was greater than that of DDW in the PbN. Numbers of cFLI following sucrose, EtOH, and sucrose/EtOH were not significantly different from each other in the PbN. The number of cFLI in response to stimulation solution was not different from that of DDW in the NAcc. The result of the present study suggests that not only sucrose but also EtOH activates some neurons in the PbN, and that some pontine neurons possibly respond to both sucrose and EtOH.
Animals ; Brain ; Dopamine ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Male ; Neurons ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Reward ; Sucrose* ; Tongue ; Water ; Xylazine

Procedures involving complex surgical techniques in rats, such as placement of abdominal aortic graft require extended duration of surgical anesthesia, which often can be achieved by repeated administrations of xylazine-ketamine combination. However such repeated anesthetic administration, in addition to being technically challenging, may be associated with potential adverse events due to cumulative effects of anesthesia. We report here the feasibility of using urethane at low dose (~1/10 the recommended anesthetic dose) in combination with a xylazine-ketamine mix to achieve an extended duration of surgical anesthesia in rats. The anesthesia induction phase was quick and smooth with an optimal phase of surgical anesthesia achieved for up to 90 minutes, which was significantly higher compared to that achieved with use of only xylazine-ketamine combination. The rectal temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were within the physiological range with an uneventful recovery phase. Post surgery the rats were followed up to 3 months without any evidence of tumor or any other adverse effects related to the use of the urethane anesthetic combination. We conclude that low dose urethane can be effectively used in combination with xylazine and ketamine to achieve extended duration of surgical anesthesia up to 90 minutes in rats.
Anesthesia* ; Animals ; Heart Rate ; Ketamine* ; Rats* ; Respiratory Rate ; Transplants ; Urethane* ; Xylazine*

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Nei Guan (PC-6) moxibustion stimulation on artificial bradycardia of dogs. Xylazine was injected for inducing bradycardia. Rectal temperature, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate were recorded every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased on 40 min (p < 0.05) after xylazine injection, compared with those of control group. Heart rate significantly increased on 40 min (p < 0.01), 50 min (p < 0.01), 60 min (p < 0.01), 70 min (p < 0.01), 80 min (p < 0.01), 100 min (p < 0.01), 120min (p < 0.01) after xylazine injection, compared with those of control group. In conclusion, moxibustion of Nei Guan (PC-6) showed recovery effect in xylazine induced bradycardia in dogs.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Dogs ; Heart Rate ; Moxibustion ; Respiratory Rate ; Xylazine

PURPOSE: This study was designed to prove the efficacy of neutralization with weak acid against strong alkali ingestion and to evaluate exothermic reaction of neutralization therapy. METHODS: 30 New Zealand White rabbits were anesthetized with intravenous injection of ketamine and xylazine. After gastric lavage was done, a orogastric catheter and a electric thermometer probe were inserted into stomach. And then the rabbits were divided into six groups. The first group was given 3M NaOH 16.5 mL only. The second and third groups were given 3M NaOH 16.5 mL and then 1M C H3COOH 52.14 mL one and three minutes later, respectively. The fourth and fifth groups were given tap water instead of CH3COOH, and the sixth group was given C H3COOH only. We monitored intragastric temperature continuously, compared arterial pHs before alkali infusion and 15 minutes later, measured gastric pH 15 minutes later, and examined pathologic findings of stomach after sacrificing. RESULTS: There was no significant thermal effect in all groups, and gastric pH of neutralization groups was much lower than alkali alone or dilution groups. Changes of arterial pH after 15 minutes were greater in alkali alone and dilution groups than neutralization groups. In gross and microscopic findings of stomach, only mucosal injuries were observed in neutralization groups, especially in one minute group. But all stomach layers were destroyed in alkali alone and dilution groups. CONCLUSION: Neutralization therapy never makes additional thermal injury, and has protective effects against local tissue destruction and systemic alkalemia. Dilution therapy shows little or no effects.
Alkalies* ; Catheters ; Eating* ; Gastric Lavage ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketamine ; Rabbits ; Stomach ; Thermometers ; Water ; Xylazine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between inhalation anesthetics and hearing in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As inhalation anesthetics, isoflurane was used. Auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emission were used as measurement of hearing. Mice were divided into 2 groups. 'Isoflurane group' consisted of mice that were anesthetized with an inspired concentration of 2.0 vol% isoflurane with 2 L/min of oxygen (n=10). 'Control group' consisted of mice that were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine (n=10). RESULTS: Auditory brainstem response thresholds in mice anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine was not different from those in mice anesthetized with isoflurane. Threshold of DPOAE was higher in mice with isolurane than with ketamine and xylazine. Changes of efferent control may be induced by isoflurane and consequently change the threshold of DPOAE in mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results infer that, there was a change of central nervous system induced by inhalation anesthetics, this change also can be applied to the strategies for prevention of hearing loss.
Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Isoflurane ; Ketamine ; Mice ; Oxygen ; Xylazine

BACKGROUND: Although there have been reports showing the changes of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) waves by propofol, no detailed studies have been done at the level of brainstem auditory circuit. So, we studied the effects of propofol on the postsynaptic currents of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB)-lateral superior olive (LSO) synapses by using the whole cell voltage clamp technique and we compared this data with that obtained by the ABR. METHODS: 5 rats at postnatal (P) 15 days were used for the study of the ABR. After inducing deep anesthesia using xylazine 6 mg/kg and ketamine 25 mg/kg, the ABRs were recorded before and after intraperitoneal propofol injection (10 mg/kg) and the effects of propofol on the latencies of the I, III, and V waves and the I-III and III-V interwave intervals were evaluated. Rats that were aged under P11 were used in the voltage clamp experiments. After making brainstem slices, the postsynaptic currents (PSCs) elicited by MNTB stimulation were recorded at the LSO, and the changes of the PSCs by the bath application of propofol (100 microM) were monitored. RESULTS: We found small, but statistically significant increases in the latencies of ABR waves III and V and the interwave intervals of I-III and III-V by propofol. However, no significant changes were observed in the glycinergic or glutamatergic PSCs of the MNTB-LSO synpases by the application of propofol (100 microM). CONCLUSIONS: Glycinergic or glutamatergic transmission of the MNTB-LSO synapses might not contribute to the propofol-induced changes of the ABR.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Baths ; Brain Stem ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Olea ; Propofol ; Rats ; Synapses ; Synaptic Potentials ; Xylazine

PURPOSE: It is difficult to detect small amount of aspiration into the lungs due to the lack of safe, sensitive and specific diagnostic tool. Recently, in animal studies, it has been reported that immunocytochemistry for lactoglobulin can be used to detect the minimal aspiration of cow milk. So, we tried to determine the difference between immunocytochemistry for lactoglobulin and Oil Red O stain of alveolar macrophages in cow milk aspirated mice. METHODS: Fifty seven mice with 6-8 weeks old and 30-40 g weighing were used. Mice received either single or multiple intranasal instillation of 0.05 ml cow milk for study and saline for control under the anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine. The trachea of mouse was cannulated with 20G Jelco needle and then, mouse lungs were lavaged 3 times with 0.5 ml of phosphate buffer solution at 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours after the last milk or saline instillation. Cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were stained with Oil Red O and immunocytochemistry for beta-lactoglobulin. RESULTS: After single aspiration of milk, no cellular difference was found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) when compared with saline aspirated group at 4 hours. But after repeated aspiration of milk, significant change was observed in the number of alveolar macrophage, neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil. Immunocytochemical reactivity was not observed in alveolar macrophages of saline aspirated group. Lipid-laden alveolar macrophages were recovered rarely in Oil Red O staining. Immunocytochemical staining displayed stain-positive alveolar macrophages for beta-lactoglobulin at 4 hours after milk aspiration, it had a peak at 12 hours and decreased markedly at 24 hours. Immunocytochemical stain positive alveolar macrophages appeared similarly in number between single and repeated aspiration group. CONCLUSION: These observations suggested that alveolar macrophages could be detected more easily on immunocytochemistry for lactoglobulin than Oil Red O stain and immunocytochemistry could be used as a sensitive & specific diagnostic method for the detection of milk aspiration.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Eosinophils ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ketamine ; Lactoglobulins ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Mice* ; Milk* ; Needles ; Neutrophils ; Trachea ; Xylazine

OBJECTIVE : Recently, we are interested in bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). Most of patients with osteonecrosis have taken medicine bisphosphonate for a long time. But the mechanism of osteonecrosis in BRONJ was not clarified yet. The aim of this study is to evaluate the difference of bone healing effect after bone graft from ilium to maxillary sinus in rabbits between zoledronate-treated and zoledronate-not treated groups. METHOD : The subjects was divided into two groups. The experimental group was 9 rabbits, treated with intraperitoneal administration of zoledronate( 0.06mg/kg) once per week for 3 weeks. In control group, same procedure was applied but administerd saline instead of zoledronate. After 4 weeks, surgical operation under local anesthesia (ketamine 3.0cc, xylazine 1.0cc) was done. At postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks later, each rabbits were sacrificed and removed the bone grafted area. Gross, radiologic and histopathologic exminations of bone grafted area were performed. RESULT : There were no conspicuous differences of radiological findings between experimental and control groups in any experimental weeks. In experimental group, new bone formation appeared earlier than control group at 1 week after operation, and maturation of bony tissue were more conspicuous at 2 and 4 weeks after operation, compared with control group. In 8 weeks after operation, similar microscopic findings were noted in both groups. CONCLUSION : In the bisphosphonate-treated rabbits, new bone formation in the bone grafted area appeared earlier and bony maturation was more concpicuous, even though there were no significant differences of gross and radiological findings. These findings suggest that bisphosphonate might be promotive effect in the healing process in early stage after administration.
Anesthesia, Local ; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw ; Diphosphonates ; Humans ; Ilium ; Imidazoles ; Maxillary Sinus ; Osteogenesis ; Osteonecrosis ; Rabbits ; Transplants ; Xylazine

PURPOSE:Preconditioning due to activation of AMPK might reduce ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the kidney, based on the key role of AMPK in preserving ATP. To evaluate this possibility, the effect of preconditioning with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR), AMPK activator, before sustained ischemia was investigated. METHODS:Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 220-250 g were used. To induce renal ischemia, a laparotomy was performed under ketamine and xylazine hydrochloride, and the blood supply to both kidneys was interrupted by placement of vessel clamps at the level of the renal pedicles. Reflow was initiated by removing the clamps. The following experimental groups were defined 1. Acute renal ischemia 0 sec, 10 min, 15 min, 2. AICAR treatment, 3. Sham group (S), 4. Ischemia/ Reperfusion group (I/R), 5. AICAR+I/R group (A+I/R), 6. AraA (Adenine-9-b-D-arabinofuranoside, an AMPK) inhibitor+AICAR+I/R group (AraA+A+I/R) RESULTS:There was only faint AMPK phosphorylation in the sham group. After 10 minutes of ischemia, or AICAR preconditioning however, Thr172 phosphorylation of AMPK was increased (p<0.05). The serum levels of BUN and creatinine were significantly decreased in AICAR preconditioning group (A+I/R). (128.0+/-7.33 mg/dL, 4.18+/-0.27 mg/dL vs. 90.2+/-11.13 mg/dL, 2.58+/-0.7 mg/dL, p<0.05), but these effects were attenuated by AMPK inhibitor, AraA (AraA+A+I/R group). In quantitative analysis of tubular injury, tubular injury score in AICAR preconditioning group significantly decreased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION:The AMPK activator AICAR has a protective effect against renal I/R injury.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Creatinine ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Ketamine ; Kidney ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Ribonucleotides ; Salicylamides ; Xylazine

Tribromoethanol (2,2,2-tribromoethanol, TBE) is a popular injectable anesthetic agent used in mice in Korea. Our goal was to assess the risks associated with side effects (lesions) in the abdominal cavity, especially at high doses. To understand the underlying pathophysiological changes, we examined levels of cytokines through ELISA of abdominal lavage fluid and spleen collected from mice treated with low and high-dose TBE. ICR mice were anesthetized using one of the following protocols: a combination of TBE 200 mg/kg (1.25%) and xylazine 10 mg/kg; TBE 400 mg/kg (1.25%); and TBE 400 mg/kg (2.5%). Administration of high-dose TBE (400 mg/kg) increased the interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 levels in the peritoneal cavity over the short term (<1 day) compared with sham controls and low-dose TBE (200 mg/kg) groups. Cytokine expression in the low-dose TBE group was similar to the control group, whereas in the high-dose TBE group cytokine levels were higher in abdominal lavage fluid and spleen over the long term (10 days post-injection). We conclude that a combination of TBE 200 mg/kg (1.25%) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) is a safe and effective anesthetic for use in animals.
Abdominal Cavity ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Kinetics ; Korea ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Salicylamides ; Spleen ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Xylazine