J Vet Sci.  2005 Sep;6(3):239-241.

Ketamine anaesthesia following premedication of rabbits with vitamin C

• Elsa A
• Ubandawaki S

Abstract

The effects of vitamin C on ketamine anesthesia was studied. In normal rabbits the onset and duration of ketamine induced anesthesia were 6.0+/-0.5 and 36.0+/-0.9 min, respectively. Pre-treatment of rabbits with 30, 60 and 240 mg/kg, i.m. of vitamin C followed by ketamine 40 mg/ kg i.m. resulted in significant (p<0.05)decrease in the onset and increase in duration of ketamine anesthesia to 5.0 +/-0.06 and 37.0+/-0.7;4.0 +/-0.5 and 39.0*0.6;2.0+/-2.3 and 44.0+/-0.8 min, respectively. There was also significant (p<0.05)decrease in the heart rates in the animals treated with vitamin C and ketamine combinations. Serum analysis showed a significant (p<0.05)increase in blood glucose. The observed decreased in serum calcium and phosphorous following ketamine injection was prevented by pretreatment with vitamin C. These results suggest that vitamin C at higher doses could potentiate ketamine anesthesia in rabbits.

Keyword

ketamine; rabbits; vitamin C

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia/*veterinary
Anesthesia, General/*veterinary
*Anesthetics, Dissociative
Animals
Ascorbic Acid/*therapeutic use
Bicarbonates/blood
Blood Glucose/drug effects
Body Temperature/drug effects
Calcium/blood
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Heart Rate/drug effects
*Ketamine
Male
Oxygen/blood
Premedication/*veterinary
*Rabbits
Respiration/drug effects