Blood glucose profiles in surgically prepared flaxedilized and anesthetized rats

Blood glucose profiles were monitored over an extended period of time in surgical rat preparations which included femoral artery and vein cannulations, tracheotomy, carotid artery cannulation and a craniotomy to expose the brain. Rats were under pentobarbital anesthesia, urethane anesthesia or Flaxedil neuromuscular blockage and local anesthesia, Fasted and unfasted rats were compared. These profiles are a foundation for studies of the central nervous system control of feeding behavior and metabolic homeostasis and of hypothalamic glucoreceptors, for which knowledge of the baseline blood glucose profile is particularly important. Such studies utilize the surgical preparations examined here. The importance of rapid "on the spot" "moment to moment" monitoring of blood glucose during the course of an experiment and adjustment of the experiment accordingly is demonstrated. Methods for such monitoring are evaluated in comparison with the standard enzymatic fluorometric assay for glucose. The YSI Glucose Analyzer seems to be a suitable one and is feasible for physiological and psychological laboratories without biochemical expertise.