Alphaxalone

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The text on this page is taken from an informal compilation of opinions of contributors to the online VOLE List. As such, they are not peer reviewed and may contain differences of opinion. Those wishing to contact the list may contact Adrian Smith.


I am just wondering if anyone has tried alphaxalone in mice since it came out in a single drug prep in Alfaxan?

I have a scientist who wishes to use it for a 15 -20 minute non-painful procedure, where effectively all we need is restraint (isoflurane appears to affect the parameters being measured and so we can't use it). My understanding was that alphaxalone isn't good i/p and this paper suggests some adverse responses.

We have access to etomidate as a possible alternative.


We tried a few mixes in a workshop a couple of years ago (in the USA) - what you might expect from the previous experience with saffan - i/v I would expect it to be better, but the problem is the rapid metabolism so high dose needed to get anaesthesia. You could try medetomidine/midazolam/butorphanol (no, I didn’t expect it to work, but it did).

Etomidate alone is a possibility - but check out Colin Green’s paper on Metomidate/Fentanyl as he found etomidate less good. (it's in Lab Animal somewhere, 1970s).


I don't know about mice but etomidate (strictly the excipient, propylene glycol) causes haemolysis and pain on IV injection in sheep and pigs, unless diluted with a benzodiazepine.  Not knowing anything different I wouldn't want it i.p. if I were a mouse, or any other small mammal for that matter.