Abstract
The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane was determined in New Zealand White rabbits. Tracheal anaesthetic concentrations were measured using a Siemens Servo Gas Monitor. A stimulator was used to deliver precisely controlled mechanical stimuli for the determination of MAC. Movement of the rabbit's head was recorded using a force transducer attached to the teeth. Evidence is presented that for the determination of MAC a precise nociceptive threshold is preferable to the so-called supramaximal stimulus used in clinical anaesthesia and in determinations of anaesthetic potency. We conclude that techniques for the determination of MAC which disregard either sensitization of sensory mechanisms by producing tissue inflammation or the possibility of nerve compression by severe mechanical stimuli are of questionable value. The use of the mechanical stimulator described, or a similar device, would help in the standardization of the determination of MAC in all species by facilitating the application of a force of controlled amplitude, duration and velocity, thereby removing some of the variables which confound comparative studies of MAC.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- DC:
-
direct current
- ID:
-
internal diameter
- MAC:
-
minimum alveolar concentration
References
Cullen, D.J., Eger, E.I. II, Stevens, W.C., Smith, N.T.Y., Cromwell, T.H., Cullen, B.F., Gregory, G.A., Bahlman, S.H., Dolan, W.M., Stoelting, R.K. and Fourcade, H.E., 1972. Clinical signs of anaesthesia.Anaesthesiology,36, 21–36
Davis, N.L., Nunnally, R.L. and Malinin, T.I., 1975. Determination of the minimum alveolar anaesthetic concentration in the white New Zealand rabbit.British Journal of Anaesthesia,47, 341–345
Doorley, B.M., Waters, S.J., Terrell, R.C. and Robinson, J.L., 1988. MAC of I-653 in Beagle Dogs and New Zealand White rabbits.Anaesthesiology 69, 89–91
Drummond, J.C., 1985. MAC for halothane, enflurane and isoflurane in the New Zealand white rabbit and a test for validity of MAC determination.Anaesthesiology,62, 336–338
Dubner, R., 1991. Neuronal plasticity and pain following peripheral tissue inflammation or nerve injury.Proceedings of the 6th World Congress on Pain, 263–276
Eger, E.I., Saidman, L.J. and Brandstater, B., 1965. Minimum alveolar concentration: a standard of anaesthetic potency.Anaesthesiology,26, 756–763
Eger, E.I., Johnson, B.H., Weiskoff, R.B., Holmes, M.A., Yasuda, N., Targ, A. and Rampil, I.J., 1988. Minimum alveolar concentration of I-653 and isoflurane in pigs: definition of a supramaximal stimulus.Anesthesia and Analgesia,76, 1174–1176
Flecknell, P. A., 1987. In:Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia, Ch. 3 (Academic Press, London), 201–21
Folkow, B. and Neil, E., 1971.Circulation (Oxford University Press, London), 349
Hall, L.W. and Clarke, K.W., 1991. In:Veterinary Anaesthesia, 9th edn. (Baillière Tindall, London), 98
Handwerker, H.O. and Reeh, P.W., 1991. Pain and inflammation.Proceedings of the 6th World Congress on Pain, Ch. 7, 59–70
Iggo, A., 1985. Sensory receptors in the skin of mammals and their sensory functions.Reviews in Neurology (Paris),141(10), 559–613
Iggo, A and Kornhuber, H.H., 1977. A quantitative study of C-mechanoreceptors in hairy skin of the cat.Journal of Physiology,271, 549–565
Livingston, A., Waterman, A.E., Nolan, A., Morris, R., Ley, S.J. and Headley, P.M., 1992. The sheep as a model for experimental pain studies. In: C.E. Short and A. van Poznak (eds.),Animal Pain (Churchill Livingstone, New York), 364–371
Lundeen, G., Manohar, M. and Parks, C., 1983. Systemic distribution of blood flow in swine while awake and during 1.0 and 1.5 MAC isoflurane anesthesia with and without 50% nitrous oxide.Anesthesia and Analgesia,62, 499–512
Merkel, G. and Eger, E.I. II, 1963. A comparative study of halothane and halopropane anaesthesia, including a method for determining equipotency.Anaesthesiology,24, 346–357
Miller, R.D., 1986. In:Anaesthesia, 2nd edn., vol. 1 (Churchill Livingstone, London), 557–580
Muir, M.W., Wagner, A.E. and Hinchcliff, K.W., 1992. Cardiorespiratory and MAC-reducing effects of alpha2 agonists in horses. In: C.E. Short and A. van Poznak (eds.),Animal Pain (Churchill Livingstone, London), 201–212
Regan, M.J. and Eger, E.I. II, 1967. Effect of hypothermia in dogs on anaesthetising and apnoea doses of inhalation agents. Determination of the anaesthetic index (Apnoea/MAC).Anaesthesiology,28, 689–700
Saidman, L.J. and Eger, E.I. II, 1964. Effect of nitrous oxide and narcotic premedication on the alveolar concentration of halothane required for anaesthesia.Anaesthesiology,25, 302–306
Saidman, L.J., Eger, E.I. II, Munson, E.S., Babad, A.A. and Muallem, M., 1967. Minimum alveolar concentration of methoxyflurane, halothane, ether and cyclopropane in man: correlation with theories of anaesthesia.Anaesthesiology,28, 994–1002
Stone, D.J., Moscicki, J.C. and Difazio, C.A., 1992. Thiopental reduces halothane MAC in rats.Anesthesia and Analgesia,74, 542–546
Sunderland, S., 1978.Nerves and Nerve Injuries, 2nd edn. (Churchill Livingstone, London)
Tranquilli, W.J., Thurmon, J.C., Benson, G.J. and Steffey, E.P., 1983. Halothane potency in pigs (Sus scrofa).American Journal of Veterinary Research,44, 1106–1107
Waterman, A.E., Livingstone, A., Ley, S.J. and Brandt, S., 1992. Changes in nocieptive thresholds associated with chronic pain in sheep. In: C.E. Short and A. van Poznak (eds.),Animal Pain (Churchill Livingstone, London), 378–385
Willoughby, D.A. (ed.), 1987. Inflammation — mediators and mechanisms.British Medical Bulletin,43, 247–477
Wolf, S., Pfeiffer, J.B., Ripley, H.S., Winter, O.S. and Wolff, H.G., 1948. Hypertension as a reaction pattern to stress; summary of experimental data on variations in blood pressure and renal blood flow.Annals of Internal Medicine,29, 1056–1076
Wolff, H.G. and Wolf, S., 1958. In:Pain, 2nd edn. (Blackwell Scientific, Oxford), 10
Woolf, C.J., 1983. Evidence for a central component of post injury hypersensitivity.Nature,308, 686–688
Woolf, C.J., 1991. Central mechanisms of acute pain.Proceedings of the 6th World Congress on Pain, Ch. 3, 25–34
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sobair, A.T.H., Cottrell, D.F. & Camburn, M.A. A mechanical stimulator for the determination of the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane in the rabbit. Vet Res Commun 17, 375–385 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01839388
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01839388