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The pharmacology of MS 222 (ethyl-m-aminobenzoate) in squalus acanthias

1974; Elsevier BV; Volume: 5; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0306-3623(74)80005-4

1878-2388

Vincent G. Stenger, Thomas H. Maren,

Physiological and biochemical adaptations

Ninety-five per cent of the drug was cleared via the gills in 2 hours with a clearance of 10·7 ml. per kg. per minute. Plasma t1/2 was 56 minutes, renal excretion being ∼5 per cent of injected drug and metabolites. The volume of distribution was that of body water. About 5 per cent was metabolized to m-aminobenzoic acid and m-acetylaminobenzoic acid, which were excreted via the kidney at a rate similar to glomerular filtration. A small fraction was also converted to the N-acetyl derivative which was excreted across the gill. Given intravenously, the drug did not produce anaesthesia, but when administered via the gills anaesthesia occurred rapidly. The immobilization of the fish appears to be a consequence of high arterial blood levels. The evidence suggests that anaesthesia is due to events at the neuromuscular junction.