The non-invasive component detection analysis tail-cuff system was used to measure heart rate and blood pressure (Kent Scientific Corporation, Torrington, CT) [24 (link)]. Only the control group was used for this study. This system uses volume pressure recording to measure the flow of the blood in the tail. One day prior to the experiment, rats (n = 6) were put in restrainers with darkened nose cones in a warm environment for 30 minutes. This was done twice during the day. Two cuffs were put on the tail, an occlusion and a volume-pressure recording cuff, on the day of recording. Values of blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and heart rate were displayed in the accompanying software. Readings were taken under basal condition and at 2 hours and days 1, 3, and 5 after incision (1,000–1,200 hr). The rats were housed individually. The average invasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the caudal venous artery is 95.9 ± 12.9 mmHg and 73 ± 13.7 mmHg, respectively, whereas the mean heart rate is 305 beats/min [25 (link)].