Ketamine is the anesthetic of choice in studies on neocortical acetylcholine release

The neocortical release of acetylcholine (ACh) and the effect of morphine on the release of the cholinergic transmitter were studied in ketamine-anesthetized and in midpontine pretrigeminal transected rats. The results show that control values for ACh release as well as the effect of morphine on neocortical ACh output were similar in both groups of rats. However, as ketamine produced some convulsive episodes in a few rats, continuous ECoG recording is recommended to avoid erroneous interpretation of the effects of drugs on the release of ACh.