Successful induction of deep hypothermia by isoflurane anesthesia and cooling in a non-hibernator, the rat

Abstract The aim of the present study was to establish a novel method for inducing deep hypothermia in rats. Cooling rats anesthetized with isoflurane caused time-dependent decrease rectal temperature, but cardiac arrest occurred before their body temperature reached 20 °C when inhalation continued during cooling process. Stopping 22.5 successfully induced hypothermia, although stopping at 27.5 resulted spontaneous recovery temperature. hypothermic condition able be maintained up 6 h. A large number c-Fos-positive cells were detected hypothalamus hypothermia. Both maintenance and from organ injury, damage transient recovered within 1 week. These findings indicate that established procedure is appropriate without accompanying serious injury