Echocardiographic evaluation in rabbits: association of midazolam and ketamine

The use of animals as experimental models often requires anesthesia, particularly when it comes to echocardiographic evaluation of rabbits. However, there is little information regarding the protocols and their effects on echocardiographic parameters. We used 20 male five month old New Zealand rabbits, weighing 3.2kg, distributed in two groups of 10 animals each: G1 - midazolam maleate associated with ketamine hydrochloride, and G2 - midazolam maleate. We compared the effect of two protocols on functional indicators of the left ventricle and the flow valves and we obtained lower values of heart rate and left ventricular ejection fraction and higher values of left ventricular diameter in systole, end-systolic volume of left ventricle and aortic diameter in the group that received only midazolam. Midazolam maleate was more effective because it promoted good sedation, allowing a good quality examination and limited effects on the cardiovascular system.

rabbit; echoDopplercardiography; sedative drugs