Effects of anaesthetics and lazaroid U-83836E on survival of transplanted rat dopaminergic neurones.

We investigated whether different methods of anaesthesia, used on the pregnant rat when collecting embryonic donor tissue, and a lipid peroxidation inhibitor (lazaroid U-83836E) affect the survival of grafted embryonic dopaminergic neurones in hemiparkinsonian rats. There was no difference in either functional recovery or survival of dopaminergic neurones between the different euthanasia groups: (a) isoflurane sedation followed by cervical dislocation, (b) equithesin- or (c) euthatal-anaesthesia. However, lazaroid-treatment enhanced both behavioural recovery and transplant survival. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.