Table 2.

Anesthetics commonly used to sedate mice to acquire physiological measurements (2, 28, 55)

Anesthetic	Dosage range	Advantages	Limitations
Isoflurane	1–3% (1 l/min)	• Fast acting • Short lasting	• Cardiorespiratory depression
Barbiturates	30–90 mg/kg	• Short or long acting	• Cardiorespiratory depression • Hypotension
Ketamine	80–100 mg/kg	• Less respiratory depression • Preserves cardiovascular physiology	• Very light sedation • Can induce seizures
Ketamine/xylazine	80–100 mg/kg; 5–15 mg/kg	• Can be combined with opioids and analgesics	• Bradycardic and hypotensive
2,2,2-Tribromoethanol (avertin) or 2-methyl-2-butanol	240 mg/kg	• Not a controlled substance • Short acting • Moderate • Cardiopulmonary depression	• Peritonitis, intestinal ileus • Abdominal adhesions • Light sensitive (toxic byproducts)