The effect of exsanguination on organ weight of rats

In three experiments, rats were anesthetized and killed by exsanguination or were killed by an overdose of anesthetic and not exsanguinated. The second group of rats in each experiment mimicked rats found dead on toxicology studies. Liver and kidney weights of rats killed by exsanguination were statistically significantly lower than those of rats not exsanguinated both in terms of gross organ weight and of percentage of body weight. The results of these experiments indicate that organ weight data of rats killed by exsanguination should be segregated from those of rats found dead. In fact, because of uncontrollable variables, organs of rats found dead should not be weighed.