BU IACUC Approved January 7, 2011, Reviewed July 2019
Neonates are defined as mouse or rat pups up to 10 days of age.
Gas anesthesia (isoflurane) or hypothermia may be used to anesthetize neonatal rats and mice. Parenteral agents are not advisable in very young animals. Hypothermia allows less control of anesthetic depth compared to inhalant anesthesia. Hypothermia is appropriate for short, minor surgical procedures (5-15 minutes) in neonatal rats or mice up to 5 days of age. Gas anesthesia is recommended for longer, more invasive procedures and in neonates older than 5 days. Very young hairless, altricial rodents function as poikilotherms and are resistant to brain damage associated with cephalic circulatory arrest. Surface cooling is effective due to their small surface area and body size. Hypothermia provides immobilization and mild analgesia (similar to local anesthesia resulting in nerve transmission blockage). For more information contact veterinary staff for assistance.
Policies
A. Neonates must be anesthetized for painful procedures and surgery.
B. Analgesia
Neonates must receive analgesia if the procedure can reasonably be expected to result in enough pain to interfere with the neonatal function of sleeping and suckling. Exceptions may be considered, if the disturbance of neonate and dam in order to administer the medication interferes more than warranted with these functions.
C. Documentation
Documentation is required for neonatal anesthesia, surgery and postoperative care. Please use the IACUC Anesthesia and Surgical Monitoring Form for Rodents or a substantially similar form.
Procedures
A. Recommended Preparation of Dam Prior to Recovery Anesthesia and Surgery on Neonates1.
These procedures may help reduce dam cannibalizing or neglecting pups.
Handling and olfactory conditioning of dam 7-10 days prior to birthing.
Gentle handling for 5-minute intervals a few times a day.
Cotton balls scented with various chemicals to be used (betadyne, isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine etc.) or gas anesthetic (isoflurane placed in cage for 1-2 minutes daily.
Never leave animal unattended during this time.3
B. Hypothermia 1
Protect pup with glove or by placing in a paper-lined test tube to avoid freeze damage to the skin. A thin material such as a latex glove, works better than a thicker material such as a neoprene glove.
Immerse container holding pup in ice water or place on a barrier such as a glove or other water-proof material over crushed ice. If crushed ice is used, it must be carefully packed, to provide close contact between ice and pup. The ice can be packed flat or a frozen block of ice covered with a thin lining can be used.
Induction time: 2-4 minutes. Observe the pup closely.
Anesthesia time: 5-15 minutes.
Recovery time: Variable (up to 1 hour).
Pup can be kept on cooling platform (i.e. water-proof material covered ice cube or cold glass plate or a frozen ice block) to provide more constant level of hypothermia.
Use of a fiber optic surgical lamp rather than an incandescent one minimizes surface warming and helps in maintaining hypothermia.
C. Recovery of Neonate from Hypothermia
Recover the neonate by holding it in your gloved hand or placing it in a Petri dish on a warm water circulating heating pad or under a heat lamp for less than 5 minutes and not too close to the lamp watching carefully to avoid overheating.
D. Preparing the Neonate for Return to Dam
Recover neonate on home cage/dam bedding so as to make it smell similar to what it did before removal from cage.
Make sure neonate is warm and pink and breathing and capable of spontaneous movement before returning it to dam.
Returning neonates as a group (the entire litter) is best to minimize disturbing dam.
If isoflurane anesthesia has been used, it may help to accustom dam to the smell for 1-2 days before surgery on neonate (see Preparation of Dam).3
It may help with dam accepting the pups back after the procedure if all vestiges of blood and disinfectant are removed from the pups by gently wiping them with a wet gauze pad before returning them to the dam.4
E. Inhalant Anesthesia Isoflurane Method
Inhalant anesthesia may be safe both for ultra short (<5 minutes=”” and=”” prolonged=”” greater=”” than=”” 6=”” hours=”” procedures=”” for=”” longer=”” periods=”” of=”” anesthesia=”” it=”” may=”” be=”” necessary=”” to=”” ventilate=”” the=”” animal=”” sup=””>2, 6, 7
Induce anesthesia in an induction box.
Use an adult mouse facemask adjusted for neonate. Or use the EZ-103A Microflex Breather and shave off a small amount to shorten the mask to fit the neonate. 5
Administer isoflurane at 1.5 – 2.5% in 100% oxygen.
Place neonate on warm pad or circulating warm water pad.
During the recovery phase, turn off inhalant gas before oxygen.
Inhalant Anesthesia (Isoflurane) for Neonatal Rats and Mice
Phase of Anesthesia
Oxygen L/min
Isoflurane %
Induction
0.5 – 1.0
4-5
Maintenance
0.5 – 1.0
1-2
Recovery
0.5 then to O*
0
* During the recovery phase, turn off inhalant gas before oxygen.
F. Parenteral (Injectable) Anesthetics
Ketamine/xylazine cocktail may be considered for use in neonates but may not be as safe as hypothermia or isoflurane. It is extremely important to accurately weigh the animal and calculate the correct dose. Starting with the lower dose range is recommended. Only IP route of administration is allowed. Recovery period may be prolonged. Repeat administration is not advisable. Hypothermia must be avoided by keeping the neonate warmed as described above.
Injectable Anesthetic Agents for Neonatal Rats and Mice Do not use in pups <7 days old.
Drug
Species
Dose mg/kg
Route and needle size (gauge)
Max. volume ml
Duration minutes
Ketamine/Xylazine
MOUSE
50-150/5-10
IP <27 g
<0.5
20-40
Ketamine/Xylazine
RAT
40-90/5-10
IP <25 g
<1.0
20-30
G. Preemptive and/or Postoperative Analgesia
Analgesic Agents for Neonatal Rats and Mice
Administer a lower dose then would be administered to adult animals to start with. These opioids have been shown to be safe and effective analgesics in neonatal rodents.3
* Handling of neonates should be minimized.
Drug
Species
Dose mg/kg
Route and needle size (gauge)
Max. volume ml
Frequency*
Buprenorphine
MOUSE
0.05-0.5
IP or SC <27 g=”” td=””>
<0.2
Every 6-8 hours
Buprenorphine
RAT
0.01-0.05
IP or SC <25 g=”” td=””>
<0.2
Every 6-8 hours
Morphine
MOUSE
5-10
Every 4 hours
Morphine
RAT
5-10
Every 4 hours
Acetaminophen (0.1 ml PO of Children’s cherry flavored Tylenol Elixir) at 80 mg/2.5 ml once or twice a day may be acceptable and can be administered using a dropper or TB syringe.1
References
McGill University. University Animal Care Committee (UACC). Neonatal Rodent Survival Surgery.
Loepke, AW et al. The physiologic effects of isoflurane anesthesia in neonatal mice. Anesth.Analg. 2006, Jan; 102(1):75-80
Gaertner et. al. Anesthesia and Analgesia in Neonatal Mice and Rats. In Anesthesia and Analgesia 2nd Ed. PP.277-278.
Biomethodology and Surgical Techniques in The Mouse in Biomedical Research. 2007. Fox, James G. et.al. Eds.
E-Z Anesthesia http://www.ezanesthesia.com/ez_anesthesia/index.html. Go to “Breathing Devices” EZ-103A Microflex Breather
Loepke, AW et.al. The effects of neonatal isoflurane exposure in mice on brain cell viability, adult behavior, and memory. Anesth.Analg. 2009. Jan; 108(1):90-104.
Istaphanous GK, Loepke, AW: General anesthetics and the developing brain. Curr Opin Anesthesiolol. 2009 Jun; 22(3):368-73.
Recommended Literature
Sheldon, R. Ann et.al. Feb. 2008. Genetic and pharmacologic manipulation of oxidative stress after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 26(1): 87-92.
Wiesmann, Frank et.al. February 2000. Developmental changes of cardiac function and mass assessed with MRI in neonatal, juvenile, and adult mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 278: H652-H657.