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Published on: February 3, 2021
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A fast and simple protocol to anaesthesia in chicken embryos
Mônica Horr1, Simone Sommerfeld1,2, Murilo V Silva1,2
1School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, Rua Ceara - s/n Bloco 2 D Sala 57 Campus Umuarama, Uberlândia MG, 30402-018, Brazil.
Experimental Animals
|January 15, 2023
Summary
This study evaluated anesthetic protocols for chicken embryos (CE) using ketamine, midazolam, and morphine combinations. Ketamine-midazolam-morphine and ketamine-xylazine showed the most promising results for pain management in CE research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Anesthesiology
- Animal Research Models
Background:
- Chicken embryos (CE) are crucial in life science research, necessitating ethical anesthetic protocols to prevent animal suffering.
- Evaluating anesthetic efficacy via the shell membrane (SM) offers a minimally invasive route for CE studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of three distinct anesthetic protocols in chicken embryos.
- To identify optimal anesthetic combinations for use in the final third of embryonic development, including for euthanasia.
Main Methods:
- Anesthetic protocols involving ketamine, midazolam, and xylazine were administered to chicken embryos via the shell membrane.
- Pain was assessed by monitoring heart rate and embryo movements using a multiparametric monitor.
- A high-temperature stress test was employed to evaluate the anesthetic potential of the drug combinations.
Main Results:
- Anesthetic combinations, particularly ketamine-midazolam-morphine and ketamine-xylazine, significantly reduced heart rate and movement in chicken embryos.
- The control group (no anesthetic) exhibited increased heart rate under stress.
- The xylazine-morphine group showed reduced movement but no significant decrease in heart rate.
Conclusions:
- Ketamine-midazolam-morphine and ketamine-xylazine combinations are recommended for anesthesia and euthanasia in chicken embryos during the final third of development.
- These protocols offer effective pain management and sedation in this widely used experimental model.
- The shell membrane inoculation route provides a practical method for administering anesthetics to chicken embryos.
