ScienceAsia 22 (1996): 285-297 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1996.22.285

EFFECT OF KETAMINE ANESTHESIA ON SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS IN MALE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS (MACACA FASCICULARIS)

SUCHINDA MAIAIVIJITNOND^a AND PUTTIPONGSE VARAVUDHI^b.

ABSTRACT: The effect of ketamine hydrochloride in anesthetic doses (5 and 10 mg/kg) on PRL levels was determined in different ages and under different conditions of male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Serum PRL levels (cyPRL) were assayed in duplicate using homologous RIA kit for human prolactin (hPRL). The validation of this kit for measuring cyPRL has been done by presenting the parallelism in the immunoreactive of hPRL standard with PRL of cynomolgus monkey from the pituitary extract and from pooled TRH-stimulated serum. Serum PRL levels occasionally peaked at 40 minutes after 5 mg/kg as well as 10 mg/kg i.m. ketamine injection and subsided to the basal levels, thereafter. The prominent change was observed only in some monkeys. It did neither depend upon the dosage treatment nor the sexual maturity. However, monkeys having higher basal PRL levels seemingly responded to ketamine in the greater degree than others. It is tempting to speculate that the stimulation of PRL release is depended upon tlte hormonal pool in pituitary gland in each monkey. Therefore, the data interpretation of this hormone in sequential blood sampling when monkeys are anesthetized with ketamine should be carefully done.

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a Primate Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. E-mail: fscisml@chulkn.car.chula.ac.th
b Emeritus Professor

Received December 15, 1995