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Differential effects of anesthetics on in vivo skeletal muscle contractile function in the mouse

C P Ingalls1, G L Warren, D A Lowe

  • 1Muscle Biology Laboratory, Texas A & M University, College Station 77843-4243, USA.

Insights

Methoxyflurane (Mf) and fentanyl-droperidol/diazepam (F-d/d) anesthesia are recommended for studying mouse skeletal muscle function in vivo, as they produced larger contractile responses compared to ketamine/xylazine (K/x) and pentobarbital sodium (Ps).

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Anesthetic choice significantly impacts physiological measurements.
  • Understanding anesthetic effects on skeletal muscle contractile function is crucial for accurate in vivo research.
  • Previous studies have not comprehensively evaluated common anesthetic regimens on mouse muscle performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vivo effects of four anesthetic regimens on mouse ankle dorsiflexor muscle contractile function.
  • To determine the impact of fentanyl-droperidol/diazepam (F-d/d), ketamine/xylazine (K/x), pentobarbital sodium (Ps), and methoxyflurane (Mf) on torque-frequency and torque-velocity relationships.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo contractile function of mouse ankle dorsiflexor muscles was assessed.
  • Torque-frequency and torque-velocity relationships were determined under four different anesthetic regimens.
  • Dose-dependent effects of pentobarbital sodium and fentanyl-droperidol/diazepam were analyzed during isovelocity contractions.

Main Results:

  • Ketamine/xylazine (K/x) significantly depressed isometric contractile function and shifted the torque-frequency curve leftward.
  • Pentobarbital sodium (Ps) at high doses reduced work and average power during isovelocity contractions.
  • Methoxyflurane (Mf) and fentanyl-droperidol/diazepam (F-d/d) regimens produced comparable contractile responses at low doses and larger outputs at high doses, with F-d/d increasing peak torque and work across eccentric velocities.

Conclusions:

  • Commonly used anesthetic regimens can alter in vivo skeletal muscle contractile responses.
  • Ketamine/xylazine (K/x) and pentobarbital sodium (Ps) result in diminished torque outputs.
  • Methoxyflurane (Mf) and fentanyl-droperidol/diazepam (F-d/d) are recommended for studying mouse skeletal muscle function due to their consistent and favorable contractile responses.

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