Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Pain perception in decapitated rat brain.

R F Derr1

  • 1Research Service, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417.

Life Sciences
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Decapitation of rats may be humane, as brain unconsciousness occurs within 2.7 seconds. This rapid loss of brain oxygen suggests minimal perception of pain or distress during this animal research procedure.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Alcoholic liver disease may be prevented with adequate nutrients.

Medical hypotheses·1994
Same author

Simulation studies on ethanol metabolism in different human populations with a physiological pharmacokinetic model.

Journal of pharmaceutical sciences·1993
Same author

Requiem for the direct hepatotoxicity of ethanol.

Journal of hepatology·1993
Same author

Is ethanol per se hepatotoxic?

Journal of hepatology·1990
Same author

The quantities of nutrients recommended by the NRC abate the effects of a toxic alcohol dose administered to rats.

The Journal of nutrition·1989
Same author

Is malnutrition necessary for the development of alcoholic fatty liver in the rat?

Medical hypotheses·1988
Same journal

MAGED1 stabilizes NEUROD1 to promote Per3 expression in the pineal gland.

Life sciences·2026
Same journal

TNF-centered network pharmacology and molecular modeling of selected Andrographis paniculata compounds in hypertension.

Life sciences·2026
Same journal

Retraction notice to "Beneficial effect of Calculus Bovis Sativus on 17α-ethynylestradiol-induced cholestasis in the rat" [Life Sci. 113 (2014) 22-30].

Life sciences·2026
Same journal

Soluble PD-1 drives renal fibrosis in CKD by disrupting immune homeostasis: Therapeutic mitigation via a targeted sPD-1 sequestration strategy.

Life sciences·2026
Same journal

METTL1 promotes hepatic steatosis by mediating m<sup>7</sup>G modification of ALOX15B mRNA.

Life sciences·2026
Same journal

SLC30A9-mediated mitochondrial zinc homeostasis drives osteosarcoma chemoresistance by suppressing the mtDNA-cGAS-STING pathway.

Life sciences·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Animal Welfare Science

Background:

  • The humaneness of decapitation as an animal research method is debated.
  • Understanding the physiological response to decapitation is crucial for ethical considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the time to unconsciousness in rats following decapitation.
  • To assess the potential for pain perception during decapitation.

Main Methods:

  • Estimation of cerebral oxygen tension decline post-decapitation.
  • Analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity for indicators of consciousness and arousal.

Main Results:

  • The time for oxygen tension in the rat brain to reach unconsciousness levels was estimated at 2.7 seconds.
  • EEG activation, indicative of conscious awareness, was considered within this 2.7-second window.

Related Experiment Videos

Conclusions:

  • Decapitation per se may be considered a humane method.
  • The rapid physiological changes suggest limited capacity for prolonged pain perception.