Abstract
Summary
A rapid, reproducible, noninvasive technique which allows repeated determinations of blood pressure in the rabbit is described. With the rabbit in the supine position, hind legs extended, a pediatric blood pressure cuff was placed around the upper thigh. A Doppler ultrasound probe, placed over the femoral artery, was used to determine the systolic and diastolic pressures. The average pressures obtained were 132 ± 3/65 ± 1 mm Hg (± SEM) (n = 93). These correlated well with direct intraarterial recording of the blood pressure. This technique was also used to measure the elevated pressures in hypertensive rabbits. Pressure measurements varied very little from one observer to another. Repeated determinations from the same rabbit were also relatively constant. This modified auscultatory method provides an efficient method for blood pressure determination in the rabbit over a period of time.
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