Monitoring of blood gas parameters and acid-base balance of pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) in routine experimental conditions

Abstract

Blood gas parameters and acid-base balance values were determined in adult pregnant New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in standard laboratory housing conditions and during anaesthesia with an association of ketamine-chlorpromazine, administered before surgical procedures. All the variables were also studied in adult non-pregnant female, used as controls. No differences in pH, sO₂c, O₂Hb, COHb, sO₂m and a-vDO₂ were found between pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits in physiological conditions and during anaesthesia. Ketamine-chlorpromazine and pregnancy seemed to change the other parameters used to assess the acid-base balance and the oxygenation conditions. Anaesthesia affected only Hb, O₂Ct, O₂Cap, CcO₂ and P50. The additive effect of pregnancy and anaesthesia modified pCO₂, pO₂, HCO_3-, TCO₂, BEb, SBC, BEecf, A-aDO₂, RI, MetHb, RHb, CaO₂ and CvO₂. The patterns described are close to those of other species, suggesting the New Zealand rabbit might be a reliable animal model for monitoring selected variables.