Anesthesia of tadpoles of the southern brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) with isoeugenol (Aqui-S)

A weight of evidence evaluation of the mode of action of isoeugenol

Isoeugenol is one of several phenylpropenoid compounds that is used as a fragrance, food flavoring agent and in aquaculture as a fish anesthetic. Carcinogenicity testing in rats and mice by NTP resulted in clear evidence of carcinogenicity (hepatic adenomas/carcinomas) in male mice only. A nongenotoxic threshold mode of action (MOA) is postulated for isoeugenol and is discussed considering the IPCS MOA and Human Relevance Framework. The weight of evidence indicates that isoeugenol is not genotoxic and that the carcinogenic outcome in male mice relates directly to the metabolism of individual compounds. Benchmark Dose (BMD) modeling was conducted to determine a Point of Departure (POD) and potential threshold of carcinogenicity. The results of the BMD evaluation for isoeugenol resulted in an estimated POD for carcinogenicity in the male mouse of 8 mg/kg with a lower limit of 4 mg/kg, representing a POD for the determination of an acceptable daily intake. With application of uncertainty factors, an ADI of 40 μg/kg is calculated. This daily dose in humans would be protective of human health, including carcinogenicity. A corresponding maximum residual level (MRL) of 3200 μg/kg fish is also estimated based on this POD that considers the threshold MOA.

Sedation and Anesthesia of Amphibians

Amphibians commonly are managed under human care for research, education, conservation, and companionship and frequently are in need of sedation, anesthesia, or end-of-life care involving euthanasia. Objective investigation of sedative and anesthetic protocols in these taxa still is in its infancy, but knowledge of current best practices is paramount to appropriate care. Tricaine methanesulfonate delivered via immersion (bath) is the most common anesthetic agent in amphibians, but several other effective techniques have been identified. This summary provides a comprehensive review of the current evidence-based literature regarding amphibian sedative, anesthetic, and euthanasia techniques.

Evaluation of Effective and Practical Euthanasia Methods for Larval African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus laevis)

Larval, or tadpole-stage Xenopus laevis frogs are a popular research model for developmental biology and disease studies. Existing euthanasia guidance documents offer recommendations for both eggs and adult stages, yet do not specifically address the larval stage. Data evaluating effective euthanasia methods for groups of X. laevis tadpoles would therefore be useful. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of various immersion euthanasia procedures on tadpoles: tricaine methanesulfonate (MS222) at 6 g/L, eugenol at 800 μL/L and rapid chilling (2 to 4 °C). We also evaluated tadpoles at various developmental stages (NF stages 46, 47 and 49). Tadpoles (n = 70) were exposed to euthanasia solution for 15 min, and controls (n = 40) were placed in housing tank water for 15 min. All animals were then placed in recovery tanks containing housing tank water for 4 h to confirm irreversibility of each agent. Cessation of the heartbeat was assessed at the end of euthanasia solution exposure and at each hour thereafter. We found that immersion in a 6 g/L solution of MS222 resulted in 100% euthanasia of all larval stages tested. Conversely, eugenol produced variable euthanasia rates that were affected by both age group and batches of stock solutions. Rapid chilling was completely ineffective as a euthanasia method in our study. Based on our findings, we recommend MS222 as an effective and practical means of euthanizing large numbers of X. laevis tadpoles.

Simultaneous determination of eugenol, isoeugenol and methyleugenol in fish fillet using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography (GC) coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) operated in electron ionization mode (EI) has been shown to have advantages in the trace analysis of chemical compounds. Employing the instrument, a method has been built to simultaneously determine eugenol, isoeugenol' and methyleugenol, which have been widely used as fish anesthetic, in the fish fillet. Procedure for the sample preparation was achieved by using hexane extraction followed by phenyl solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup, which was free of such steps as rotary evaporation and nitrogen blowing by taking the volatility of eugenol and its isomers into consideration. The method was validated by conducting recovery studies on fortified fish fillet samples at four concentrations. The linearity in the range of 5-500μg·L(-1) was forced through the origin giving a coefficient of determination (r(2)) greater than 0.9982. Limits of detection (LODs) for eugenol, isoeugenol' and methyleugenol were 0.4, 1.2' and 0.2μg·kg(-1), respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 1.2, 4' and 0.7μg·kg(-1) for eugenol, isoeugenol' and methyleugenol, respectively. The recoveries for eugenol and its isomers ranged from 76.4 to 99.9% with relative standard deviations (RSD) in a range from 2.18 to 15.5%. This method is quick, simple and suitable for determining the residues of eugenol, isoeugenol and methyleugenol simultaneously in batch samples of fish fillet.