Intrahepatic Injection of Sodium Pentobarbital as an Alternative to Intraperitoneal Injection for the Euthanasia of Rats ().

The most commonly accepted method of rat euthanasia in North America is intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital (PB). However, misinjection can occur, and intraperitoneal PB may cause pain and distress. The objective of this study was to test an alternative method of euthanasia: intrahepatic injection of PB.

Evaluating Intrahepatic and Intraperitoneal Sodium Pentobarbital or Ethanol for Mouse Euthanasia.

Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of sodium pentobarbital (PB) is an accepted method of euthanasia for mice. However, this method has important drawbacks, including the potential for pain or misinjection. The objective of this prospective, randomized, blinded study was to determine whether intrahepatic (IH) injection of PB is more effective than IP delivery for mouse euthanasia.