ANAESTHESIA IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

Abstract

Anaesthesia and analgesia are imperative components in laboratory animal science and these
should be incorporated as essential components in all laboratory animal training programmes. It
prevents unnecessary pain induced by various experimental procedures(Flecknell, 1993). The
uncontrolled or unattended pain can create stress in an animal which creates release of
uncontrolled substances. Finally it can lead to a series of unwanted changes in its body.
Ultimately, this will influence the experimental outcome. Because of these reasons, the rational
use of anaesthesia and analgesia is an ethical and a scientific requirement(Mcintyre, 1971).
Anaesthesia is a state of unconsciousness and the component of anaesthesia is analgesia (pain
relief), amnesia (loss of memory) and immobilization. The drug used to achieve anaesthesia
usually has varying effects in each of these areas. Some drug may be used individually to
achieve all three effects. Others have only analgesic or sedative properties(Whelan & Flecknell,
1992).