J Appl Biomed 7:133-136, 2009 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2009.014

Influence of different ways of euthanasia on the activity of cholinesterases in the rat

Ladislav Novotný^1,2,*, Jan Misík³, Jana Karasová³, Kamil Kuča^1,3, Jiří Bajgar³

¹ Center of Advanced Studies, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

² Department of Histology and Embryology, Charles University in Prague, Medical Faculty in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

³ Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

We studied the influence of four methods of euthanasia (decapitation, exsanguination via cardiocentesis following ether anaesthesia, Nembutal anaesthesia, or immersion in a CO₂ atmosphere) on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in the brain and in the blood of mature female rats. A significant decrease was observed in the activity of AChE in the whole blood in the group treated with Nembutal. There were no significant changes in the activity of BChE with any method of euthanasia. Euthanasia in a CO₂ atmosphere was the best technique with respect to the results indicating lack of affect on the activity of AChE and BChE in the periphery and the brain, as well as from the point of view of the welfare of the animals.

Keywords: animal welfare; carbon dioxide; Ellman's method; ether; Nembutal; pentobarbital; anesthesia

Received: April 27, 2009; Revised: June 3, 2009; Published: July 31, 2009  Show citation