Cardiovascular and respiratory responses to ketamine hydrochloride in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Catheters were placed in the left ventricle and pulmonary artery of 12 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Heart rate, left ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary arterial systolic and diastolic pressure, and respiratory rate were measured before and 5, 15, and 30 minutes after intramuscular injection of the monkeys with ketamine HCl (10 mg/kg). Heart rate, systolic pressure in the left ventricle, and respiratory rate decreased significantly. No significant changes occurred in the pulmonary arterial pressure.