Survival and microvascular responses to hemorrhage with three anesthetic combinations

The effects of different anesthetic combinations on the responses to hemorrhage were investigated while using a single fixed protocol. Small artery (x +/- SE = 112 +/- 3 micron)) and vein (172 +/- 5 micron) responses to hemorrhage were quantitated in the cremaster muscle of 38 Sprague-Dawley rats via closed-circuit television microscopy. Rats were anesthetized intraperitoneally with pentobarbital (50 mg/kg), urethan (800 mg/kg), and alpha-chloralose (60 mg/kg), or urethan (600 mg/kg) and alpha-chloralose (120 mg/kg). After a 15-min control period, arterial blood pressure was lowered to 30 mmHg and maintained at that level for 60 min via hemorrhage from the femoral artery. The hemorrhaged blood was then reinfused, and recovery was monitored for 30 min. Survival was monitored for 7 days. Rats with heavier body weights (greater than or equal to 160 g) had a significantly greater survival rate, 81%, than did the lighter weight rats (less than 160 g), with a 32% survival rate. There were, however, no statistical differences in survival or microvascular responses among rats anesthetized with the three combinations of anesthetics. The combined data for all rats were: survival, 53%; small artery constriction, 45 +/- 2%; and small vein constriction, 21 +/- 3%.