The use of isoflurane anaesthesia in studies of carnitine metabolism in the laboratory rat.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of isoflurane anaesthesia in the rat prior to decapitation on metabolites of interest in studies of carnitine metabolism. Male and female fed and starved rats were allocated to either the decapitation group, or to the anaesthesia-decapitation group. Six animals were allocated to each treatment. Within each gender and within feeding status, there were no significant effects of isoflurane anaesthesia with regard to plasma and liver carnitine, plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acids, or liver free fatty acids, triglycerides, free CoA, and acetyl CoA (P > 0.05). It was concluded that isoflurane anaesthesia can be used in studies of carnitine metabolism where the rat is used as a model.