On the use of α-chloralose for repeated BOLD fMRI measurements in rats

▶ We used α-chloralose as a recoverable drug for fMRI experimentation. ▶ Survival rate after chloralose experiments was close to 95%. ▶ Chloralose facilitated the detection of weak signals from sub-cortical structures. ▶ Behavior studies were affected by isoflurane and chloralose 24 h after intake. ▶ Behavior studies were unaffected by isoflurane 48 h after experiments. ▶ Behavior studies were affected by chloralose 48 h but not at 72 h after experiments. ▶ No mixing of these anesthetic regimes should be performed in future studies.