Biochemical Effects of Anesthetic Agents in Laboratory Rats: A Narrative Review

Bougherara, Hithem; Bouchoukh, Aya Sofia; Boukhechem, Said

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2025.413465.3039

Biochemical Effects of Anesthetic Agents in Laboratory Rats: A Narrative Review

Document Type : Review Artical

Authors

¹ 1. Gestion de la Santé et Productions Animales Research Laboratory, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires El-Khroub, Université de Constantine 1 Frères Mentouri, Constantine 25000, Algeria.

² Gestion de la Santé et Productions Animales Research Laboratory, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires El-Khroub, Université de Constantine 1 Frères Mentouri, Constantine 25000, Algeria

10.21608/ejvs.2025.413465.3039

Abstract

Anesthesia is an indispensable component of research using laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus), facilitating complex procedures while ensuring animal welfare. However, anesthetic agents are potent pharmacological compounds that can induce significant alterations in an animal's biochemical milieu, challenging data integrity. This narrative review synthesizes and critically evaluatesthe literature on the effects of common anesthetic protocols on key biochemical parameters in rats. Our analysis reveals distinct biochemical signatures for different anesthetic classes. Regarding glucose homeostasis, α2-adrenergic agonists like xylazine induce profound hyperglycemia by suppressing insulin secretion. Dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine also elevate glucose, rendering protocols containing them potentially may confound metabolic endpointswithout careful consideration and control. In renal function, a common finding is a transient elevation in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), primarily due to hemodynamic artifacts like anesthetic-induced hypotension, rather than direct nephrotoxicity. The impact on hepatic enzymes is variable, yet modern inhalants such as isoflurane and sevoflurane exhibit a superior safety profile due to minimal hepatic metabolism. Finally, for neuroendocrine studies, ketamine is a potent activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, confounding stress-related research by significantly elevating corticosterone. This review concludes that anesthetic selection is a critical methodological decision. It is essential to select a protocol based on study-specific endpoints, incorporate appropriately anesthetized control groups, and transparently report all protocol details to ensure the validity and reproducibility of preclinical findings.

Keywords