Tricaine methanesulfonate
Encyclopedia
Tricaine mesylate is white powder used for anesthesia
, sedation, or euthanasia
of fishes. TMS is the only anesthetic licensed in the United States for fin fish that is intended for human consumption.
The drug can have selective toxicity for poikilotherm
s due to their lower rate of metabolism in the liver.
TMS is a muscle relaxant
that operates by preventing action potential
s. By blocking action potentials, no signals can be exchanged between the brain
and the extremities. There will be no sensory input or muscle contraction
s which would have been caused by action potential, which includes most muscles.
The optimum concentration used is 50-75 ppm (parts per million). However, the optimum may vary with the size and species of the fish, and other variables.
It is easily soluble in water (both fresh and salt) but it drastically decreases the pH
of water, increasing the acidity, which may be toxic for fish. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate
is used to buffer the solution to a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Usually an equal amount of buffer is added to attain a neutral pH . In salt/marine/sea water, the buffer use may not be necessary because sea water itself has buffering capacity.
The solution of TMS needs to be prepared freshly each time because TMS is light-sensitive and might form toxic by-products upon exposure to light.
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
, sedation, or euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
of fishes. TMS is the only anesthetic licensed in the United States for fin fish that is intended for human consumption.
The drug can have selective toxicity for poikilotherm
Poikilotherm
A poikilotherm is an organism whose internal temperature varies considerably. It is the opposite of a homeotherm, an organism which maintains thermal homeostasis. Usually the variation is a consequence of variation in the ambient environmental temperature...
s due to their lower rate of metabolism in the liver.
TMS is a muscle relaxant
Muscle relaxant
A muscle relaxant is a drug which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia. The term "muscle relaxant" is used to refer to two major therapeutic groups: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics...
that operates by preventing action potential
Action potential
In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and...
s. By blocking action potentials, no signals can be exchanged between the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
and the extremities. There will be no sensory input or muscle contraction
Muscle contraction
Muscle fiber generates tension through the action of actin and myosin cross-bridge cycling. While under tension, the muscle may lengthen, shorten, or remain the same...
s which would have been caused by action potential, which includes most muscles.
The optimum concentration used is 50-75 ppm (parts per million). However, the optimum may vary with the size and species of the fish, and other variables.
It is easily soluble in water (both fresh and salt) but it drastically decreases the pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
of water, increasing the acidity, which may be toxic for fish. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula Na HCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda . The natural mineral form is...
is used to buffer the solution to a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Usually an equal amount of buffer is added to attain a neutral pH . In salt/marine/sea water, the buffer use may not be necessary because sea water itself has buffering capacity.
The solution of TMS needs to be prepared freshly each time because TMS is light-sensitive and might form toxic by-products upon exposure to light.