Interference of an anesthetic preparation with plasma triglyceride determinations

A marked elevation in plasma triglycerides is observed when experimental animals are anesthetized with a pentobarbital sodium injection (Nembutal), a most widely used anesthetic in animal experiments. This is proven, however, to be a false rise due to the interference of propylene glycol present in the solvent of the injection with the plasma triglyceride determinations. One mole of propylene glycol produces one mole of formaldehyde by oxidation. The formaldehyde thus generated from propylene glycol mixes with those from glycerol moiety of plasma triglycerides, and gives an enhanced color reaction to all chromogenic reactions with formaldehyde. Since most of the chemical methods for plasma triglyceride determination is based on either one of these color reactions, we have to pay attention to a hypertriglyceridemia due to such influence as exerted by a solvent additive of propylene glycol upon the triglyceride measurements.