Smith W, Harrap S B
Department of Science and Technology, Western Melbourne Institute of Technical and Further Education, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
Lab Anim. 1997 Oct;31(4):337-46. doi: 10.1258/002367797780596130.
Our results showed more rapid falls in pulse rate and blood pressure in rats euthanized in a chamber precharged with carbon dioxide (CO2), when compared with rats euthanized more slowly, but death still took over 5 min in the former group. There was no behavioural evidence of pain or distress in either group during euthanasia. Initial ataxia and dyspnoea was punctuated by a lag before death, thus separating euthanasia into three clearly defined phases. All visual signs of death preceded complete vascular collapse by about 1 min in both groups, so we recommend that gas flow be maintained for at least 1 min after apparent death.
