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Nitrogen gas produces less behavioural and neurophysiological excitation than carbon dioxide in mice undergoing euthanasia.
- Source :
- PLoS ONE; 1/31/2019, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-15, 15p
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Carbon dioxide (CO<subscript>2</subscript>) is one of the most commonly used gas euthanasia agents in mice, despite reports of aversion and nociception. Inert gases such as nitrogen (N<subscript>2</subscript>) may be a viable alternative to carbon dioxide. Here we compared behavioural and electrophysiological reactions to CO<subscript>2</subscript> or N<subscript>2</subscript> at either slow fill or rapid fill in C57Bl/6 mice undergoing gas euthanasia. We found that mice euthanised with CO<subscript>2</subscript> increased locomotor activity compared to baseline, whereas mice exposed to N<subscript>2</subscript> decreased locomotion. Furthermore, mice exposed to CO<subscript>2</subscript> showed significantly more vertical jumps and freezing episodes than mice exposed to N<subscript>2</subscript>. We further found that CO<subscript>2</subscript> exposure resulted in increased theta:delta of the EEG, a measure of excitation, whereas the N<subscript>2</subscript> decreased theta:delta. Differences in responses were not oxygen-concentration dependent. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CO<subscript>2</subscript> increases both behavioural and electrophysiological excitation as well as producing a fear response, whereas N<subscript>2</subscript> reduces behavioural activity and central neurological depression and may be less aversive although still produces a fear response. Further studies are required to evaluate N<subscript>2</subscript> as a suitable euthanasia agent for mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 134396234
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210818