The effects of chloral hydrate anesthesia on the metabolic response in the substantia nigra to apomorphine.

The effects of apomorphine (1 mg/kg) upon glucose utilization in the substantia nigra (pars compacta) have been examined with 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography in conscious rats and rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate. In conscious rats, apomorphine increased glucose use by 23%, whereas in the anesthetized rats, apomorphine decreased glucose use by 24%. These divergent responses to apomorphine highlight the difficulties associated with the use of chloral hydrate anesthesia in the study of nigro-striatal systems.