ANAESTHESIA IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

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).