Rats were anesthetized 24 h after the last treatment by intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL of ketamine hydrochloride (75 mg/kg body weight) associated with 1 mL of xylazine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg body weight), submitted to laparotomy, and euthanized by puncture of the left ventricle. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture from each animal to determine the hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, monocytes, leukocytes, and granulocytes, using a cell counter (ABX micro 60, Tokyo, Japan).
Serum was also obtained by centrifugation (1825× g for 10 min at 4 °C) to evaluate serum lipids. TAG, TC, HDL, and LDL levels were analyzed using commercial reagent kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and absorbance was determined using a LabMax 240 Premium automatic analyzer (Labtest, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) at 500 nm (TC), 600 nm (HDL and LDL), or 505 nm (TG). Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) values were determined using the previously described equation, as follows: VLDL = TG/5 [81 (link)].
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were analyzed to assess hepatic function using commercial Labtest kits (Labtest Diagnóstica S.A.), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Serum was also obtained by centrifugation (1825× g for 10 min at 4 °C) to evaluate serum lipids. TAG, TC, HDL, and LDL levels were analyzed using commercial reagent kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and absorbance was determined using a LabMax 240 Premium automatic analyzer (Labtest, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) at 500 nm (TC), 600 nm (HDL and LDL), or 505 nm (TG). Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) values were determined using the previously described equation, as follows: VLDL = TG/5 [81 (link)].
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were analyzed to assess hepatic function using commercial Labtest kits (Labtest Diagnóstica S.A.), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.