Technique for Cardiovascular Monitoring in Awake Tethered Rats
Abstract
In the rat, reference values for cardiac output vary from 20.7 to 51. 8 ml.min(-1).100g(-1) and mean arterial pressure from approximately 90 to 175 mm Hg depending on the strain, state of the animal, and method of measurement. Anesthetic agents have been shown to alter the stability of various hemodynamic parameters, as well as, the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to various physiologic and pharmacologic manipulations. Additionally, it has been shown that the stress of physical restraint results in elevated blood pressure in normotensive rats and enhanced response to stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Therefore, it is important to develop an awake model free from the influence of anesthesia and physical restraint. Although the rat has been used extensively in cardiovascular research, few report use of thermodilution cardiac output in the awake, unrestrained rat. Likewise, it is rare to find simultaneous and repeated measurement of electrocardiogram (ECG) and arterial blood pressure in awake rats. Therefore, we developed a simple technique to assess cardiac output, ECG, and arterial blood pressure in the awake, freely moving state. Values for these parameters in the conscious F344 rats are reported. (kt)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA218351
Entities
People
- Dale G. Martin
- Gerald W. Parker
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases