Anaesthetic effects of chloral hydrate, pentobarbitone and urethane in adult male rats.

Chloral hydrate, pentobarbitone and urethane were evaluated and compared for onset, duration and depth of anaesthesia, cardiovascular and respiratory effects, nociception and mortality in adult male rats. Chloral hydrate (300 and 400 mg/kg) severely depressed the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Duration of anaesthesia was linearly related to dose, and anaesthetic depth and analgesia were excellent. Pentobarbital (40 mg/kg) produced a short period of light surgical anaesthesia. Moderate to severe respiratory and cardiovascular depression occurred. Duration of anaesthesia was not related to dose. Urethane (1.2 and 1.5 g/kg) caused moderate cardiovascular depression. In addition, mortality was high at the 1.5 g/kg dose. Duration of anaesthesia was greater than 24 h for most animals. Anaesthesia depth and analgesia were excellent.