Plasma concentrations of arginine vasotocin and mesotocin following pentobarbital anaesthesia and carotid cannulation in domestic fowl

Abstract

1. Plasma concentrations of arginine vasotocin (AVT) and mesotocin (MT), arterial pH and pCO₂, body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, packed cell volume and plasma osmolality were monitored in birds for 28 h following anaesthesia and carotid cannulation.

2. Plasma MT concentration decreased after 6 h of surgical recovery but there were no differences between 6 and 28 h of recovery.

3. In contrast, plasma AVT concentration was raised only after 27 h, but no differences were observed between 3 and 28 h of recovery.

4. Anaesthesia and/or carotid cannulation apparently suppressed AVT and enhanced MT release, but no significant change in either hormone was observed after 6 h of surgical recovery under the conditions specified in this study.

Notes

Present address: Department of Poultry Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, U.S.A.