Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Recovery of blood gases and haematological parameters upon anaesthesia with benzocaine, MS-222 or Aqui-S in the air-breathing catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

  • Full Paper
  • Published:
Ichthyological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fish anaesthesia is used to minimize handling stress and damage during harvesting, transportation, and surgical procedures. Through depression of cardiovascular and respiratory functions, it causes significant changes in blood gases and pH. Here, we present the effects of benzocaine (100 mg l−1), MS-222 (100 mg l−1), and Aqui-S (30 mg l−1) on blood gases and haematological parameters of commercial-sized (≈1 kg) striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and the time course of recovery. Blood was taken through a dorsal aorta catheter immediately after catheterization, and regularly during the following 72 h recovery in aerated water. All anaesthetics caused increases in PCO2 and lactate resulting in a decrease in pHe, closely mirrored by RBC pHi, as well as a marked rise in Hct, associated with elevated [cortisol] and [glucose] and increased RBC counts but no change in RBC volume, as confirmed by the lack of an adrenergic response of RBC in vitro. All anaesthetics showed similar efficacy and blood parameters were normalized within 24 to 48 h.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdolazizi S, Ghaderi E, Naghdi N, Kamangar BB (2011) Effects of Clove Oil as an anaesthetic on some hematological parameters of Carassius auratus. J Aquac Res Dev 02:108. doi:10.4172/2155-9546.1000108

  • Akbulut B, Çakmak E, Aksungur N, Çavdar Y (2011) Effect of exposure duration on time to recovery from anaesthesia of clove oil in juvenile of Russian sturgeon. Turk J Fish Aquat Sci 11:463–467

  • Andersen JB, Wang T (2002) Effects of anaesthesia on blood gases, acid-base status and ions in the toad Bufo marinus. Comp Biochem Physiol Part A 131:639–646

  • Attili S, Hughes SM (2014) Anaesthetic tricaine acts preferentially on Neural voltage-gated sodium channels and fails to block directly evoked muscle contraction. PLoS One 9:e103751. doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0103751

  • Baker DW, Matey V, Huynh KT, Wilson JM, Morgan JD, Brauner CJ (2009) Complete intracellular pH protection during extracellular pH depression is associated with hypercarbia tolerance in white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 296:1868–1880

  • Barton BA, Peter RE (1982) Plasma cortisol stress response in fingerling rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, to various transport conditions, anaesthesia, and cold shock. J Fish Biol 20:39–51

  • Boutilier RG, Iwama GK, Heming TA, Randall DJ (1985) The apparent pK of carbonic acid in rainbow trout blood plasma between 5 and 15 °C. Respir Physiol 61:237–254

  • Brauner CJ, Wang T, Jensen FB (2002) Influence of hyperosmotic shrinkage and β-adrenergic stimulation on red blood cell volume regulation and oxygen binding properties in rainbow trout and carp. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B 172:251–262

  • Claiborne J, Edwards S, Morrison-Shetlar A (2002) Acid-base regulation in fishes: cellular and molecular mechanisms. J Exp Zool 293:302–319

  • Cooper AR, Morris S (1998) The blood respiratory, haematological, acid-base and ionic status of the Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, during recovery form anaesthesia and surgery: a comparison with sampling by direct caudal puncture. Comp Biochem Physiol Part A 119:895–903

  • Coyle SD, Durborow RM, Tidwell JH (2004) Anesthetics in aquaculture. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication No. 3900

  • da Cunha MA, de Barros FMC, de Oliveira Garcia L, de Lima Veeck AP, Heinzmann BM, Loro VL, Emanuelli T, Baldisserotto B (2010) Essential oil of Lippia alba: A new anesthetic for silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen. Aquaculture 306:403–406

  • Damsgaard C, Gam LTH, Tuong DD, Thinh PV, Huong DTT, Wang T, Bayley M (2015) High capacity for extracellular acid/base regulation in the air-breathing fish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. J Exp Biol 218:1290–1294

  • Dejours P (1981) Principles of comparative respiratory physiology. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press

  • Evans DH, Piermarini PM, Choe KP (2005) The multifunctional fish gill: dominant site of gas exchange, osmoregulation, acid-base regulation, and excretion of nitrogenous waste. Physiol Rev 85:97–177

  • Ferreira JT, Smit GL, Schoonbee HJ (1981) Haematological evaluation of the anaesthetic benzocaine hydrochloride in the freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio L. J Fish Biol 18:291–297

  • Florindo LH, Leite CAC, Kalinin AL, Reid SG, Milsom WK, Rantin FT (2006) The role of branchial and orobranchial O2 chemoreceptors in the control of aquatic surface respiration in the neotropical fish tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum): progressive responses to prolonged hypoxia. J Exp Biol 209:1709–1715

  • Fredricks KT, Gingerich WH, Fater DC (1993) Comparative cardiovascular effects of four fishery anaesthetics in spinally transected rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Comp Biochem Physiol Part C 104:477–483

  • Gholipour H, Mirzargar SS, Soltani M, Ahmadi M, Abrishamifar A, Bahonar A, Yousefi P (2011) Anesthetic effect of tricaine methanesulfonate, clove oil and electroanesthesia on lysozyme activity of Oncorhynchus mykiss. Iran J Fish Sci 10:393–402

  • Houston AH, Madden JA, Woods RJ, Miles HM (1971) Some physiological effects of handling and tricaine methanesulphonate anesthetization upon the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis. J Fish Res Board Can 28:625–633

  • Huggett AG, Nixon DA (1957) Enzymatic determination of blood glucose. Biochem J 66:12

  • Hughes GM, Morgan M (1973) The structure of fish gills in relation to their respiratory function. Biol Rev 48:419–475

  • Ishimatsu A, Itazawa Y (1983) Blood oxygen levels and acid-base status following air exposure in an air-breathing fish, Channa argus: the role of air ventilation. Comp Biochem Physiol A 74:787–793

  • Iversen M, Finstad B, McKinley RS, Eliassen RA (2003). The efficacy of metomidate, clove oil, Aqui-STM and Benzoak® as anaesthetics in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts, and their potential stress-reducing capacity. Aquaculture 221:549–566

  • Iwama GK, McGeer JC, Pawluk MP (1989) The effects of five fish anaesthetics on acid-base balance, hematocrit, blood gases, cortisol, and adrenaline in rainbow trout. Can J Zool 67:2065–2073

  • Jensen FB (2004) Red blood cell pH, the Bohr Effect, and other oxygenation-linked phenomena in blood O2 and CO2 transport. Acta Physiol Scand 182:215–227

  • Kiessling A, Johansson D, Zahl IH, Samuelsen OB (2009) Pharmacokinetics, plasma cortisol and effectiveness of benzocaine, MS-222 and isoeugenol measured in individual dorsal aorta-cannulated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) following bath administration. Aquaculture 286:301–308

  • Koldkjær P, Taylor E, Glass M, Wang T, Brahm J, McKenzie D, Jensen F (2002) Adrenergic receptors, Na+/H+ exchange and volume regulation in lungfish erythrocytes. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B 172:87–93

  • Lefevre S, Huong DTT, Wang T, Phuong NT, Bayley M (2011). Hypoxia tolerance and partitioning of bimodal respiration in the striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Comp Biochem Physiol Part A 158:207–214

  • Lefevre S, Wang T, Jensen A, Cong NV, Huong DTT, Phuong NT, Bayley M (2014) Air-breathing fishes in aquaculture. What can we learn from physiology? J Fish Biol 84:705–731

  • Maricchiolo G, Genovese L (2011) Some contributions to knowledge of stress response in innovative species with particular focus on the use of the anaesthetics. TOMBJ 5:24–33

  • Molinero A, Gonzalez J (1995) Comparative effects of MS-222 and 2-phenoxyethanol on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) during confinement. Comp Biochem Physiol Part A 111:405–414

  • Nikinmaa M, Huestis WH (1984) Adrenergic swelling of nucleated erythrocytes: cellular mechanisms in a bird, domestic goose, and two teleosts, striped bass and rainbow trout. J Exp Biol 113:215–224

  • Olsen YA, Einarsdottir IE, Nilssen KJ (1995) Metomidate anaesthesia in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, prevents plasma cortisol increase during stress. Aquaculture 134:155–168

  • Ortuño J, Esteban MA, Meseguer J (2002) Effects of phenoxyethanol on the innate immune system of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) exposed to crowding stress. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 89:29–36

  • Park CK, Kim K, Jung SJ, Kim MJ, Ahn DK, Hong SD, Kim JS, Oh SB (2009) Molecular mechanism for local anesthetic action of eugenol in the rat trigeminal system. Pain 144:84–94

  • Park MO, Hur WJ, Im SY, Seol DW, Lee J, Park IS (2008). Anaesthetic efficacy and physiological responses to clove oil-anaesthetized kelp grouper Epinephelus bruneus. Aquac Res 39:877–884

  • Pereira L, Fernandes MN, Martinez CBR (2013) Hematological and biochemical alterations in the fish Prochilodus lineatus caused by the herbicide clomazone. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 36:1–8

  • Popovic NT, Strunjak-Perovic I, Coz-Rakovac R, Barisic J, Jadan M, Berakovic AP, Klobucar RS (2012) Tricaine methane-sulfonate (MS-222) application in fish anaesthesia. J Appl Ichthyol 28:553–564

  • Reinitz GL, Rix J (1977). Effect of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) on hematocrit values in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Comp Biochem Physiol Part C 56:115–116

  • Shartau RB, Brauner CJ (2014) Acid–base and ion balance in fishes with bimodal respiration. J Fish Biol 84:682–704

  • Small BC (2003) Anesthetic efficacy of metomidate and comparison of plasma cortisol responses to tricaine methanesulfonate, quinaldine and clove oil anesthetized channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Aquaculture 218:177–185

  • Soivio A, Nyholm K, Huhti M (1977) Effects of anaesthesia with MS 222, neutralized MS 222 and benzocaine on the blood constituents of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. J Fish Biol 10:91–101

  • Soivio A, Nynolm K, Westman K (1975) A technique for repeated sampling of the blood of individual resting fish. J Exp Biol 62:207–217

  • Stehly GR, Gingerich WH (1999). Evaluation of AQUI-S (efficacy and minimum toxic concentration) as a fish anaesthetic/sedative for public aquaculture in the United States. Aquac Res 30:365–372

  • Swift DJ (1981) Changes in selected blood component concentrations of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, exposed to hypoxia or sublethal concentrations of phenol or ammonia. J Exp Biol 19:45–61

  • Thomas P, Robertson L (1991) Plasma cortisol and glucose stress responses of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) to handling and shallow water stressors and anesthesia with MS-222, quinaldine sulfate and metomidate. Aquaculture 96:69–86

  • Tomasso JR, Davis KB, Parker NC (1981) Plasma corticosteroid dynamics in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), during and after oxygen depletion. J Fish Biol 18:519–526

  • Tucker VA (1967) Method for oxygen content and dissociation curves on microliter blood samples. J Appl Physiol 23:410–414

  • Velisek J, Stara A, Li ZH, Silovska S, Turek J (2011) Comparison of the effects of four anaesthetics on blood biochemical profiles and oxidative stress biomarkers in rainbow trout. Aquaculture 310:369–375

  • Velíšek J, Stejskal V, Kouřil J, Svobodová Z (2009) Comparison of the effects of four anaesthetics on biochemical blood profiles of perch. Aquac Res 40:354–361

  • Wagner GN, Singer TD, Scott McKinley R (2003) The ability of clove oil and MS-222 to minimize handling stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). Aquac Res 34:1139–1146

  • Weber RA, Peleteiro JB, Martín LOG, Aldegunde M (2009) The efficacy of 2-phenoxyethanol, metomidate, clove oil and MS-222 as anaesthetic agents in the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup 1858). Aquaculture 288:147–150

  • Wells RMG, Weber RE (1990) The spleen in hypoxic and exercised rainbow trout. J Exp Biol 150:461–466

  • Wood CM, McMahon BR, McDonald DG (1977) An analysis of changes in blood pH following exhausting activity in the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus. J Exp Biol 69:173–185

  • Zilstra WG, Buursma A, Zwart A (1983) Molar absorptions of human haemoglobin in the visible spectral range. J Appl Physiol 54:1287–1291

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam

    Le My Phuong & Do Thi Thanh Huong

  2. Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, Taira-machi, Nagasaki, 851-2213, Japan

    Atsushi Ishimatsu

  3. Zoophysiology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Le My Phuong, Christian Damsgaard, Tobias Wang & Mark Bayley

Authors
  1. Le My Phuong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christian Damsgaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Do Thi Thanh Huong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Atsushi Ishimatsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tobias Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mark Bayley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Le My Phuong.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Phuong, L.M., Damsgaard, C., Huong, D.T.T. et al. Recovery of blood gases and haematological parameters upon anaesthesia with benzocaine, MS-222 or Aqui-S in the air-breathing catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus . Ichthyol Res 64, 84–92 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-016-0545-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-016-0545-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation