Blood Concentrations of Tricaine Methane Sulphonate in Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, During Anesthetization, Branchial Irrigation, and Recovery

Abstract

Blood concentrations of tricaine methane sulphonate increased rapidly upon immersion of trout in 100 mg/liter solutions of the anesthetic at 3.5–5 C, and also rose significantly during irrigation for 15 min with either 50 or 100 mg/liter solutions. Clearance was rapid following transfer to running freshwater recovery tanks. Graphical estimates of 50 and 90% blood clearance times were 20 and 55 min, respectively.