The mechanism of fish carbon dioxide anaesthesia to alleviate pain

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K05830
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40040:Aquatic life science-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Matsubara Hajime 金沢大学, 生命理工学系, 教授 (50459715)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 渡邉 研一 東京農業大学, 生物産業学部, 教授 (20426315)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 魚類麻酔 / 炭酸 / ストレス / 可視化 / 魚類福祉

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is unclear whether fish reduce the pain same as the anesthetic action (suppress nerve activity such as the brain and central nervous system) of mammal. Because fish are poikilotherm and respirate with the help of gills. In this study, we artificially caused stress in the backland-adapted fish Japanese flounder using potassium. And we succeeded in quantifying the change in body surface color, which is the first stress response. In addition, we investigated well-known stress factors as well. It was clarified that carbonic dioxide anesthesia is the most stress-relieving fish anesthesia.

Free Research Field

水圏生産科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

麻酔に関する知見は哺乳類では豊富であるが、魚類の多くは水棲変温動物であり、代謝や呼吸中枢の酸素圧低下に対する耐性などがそれと異なるため、哺乳類の麻酔剤が使えないことも多い。本研究により、「炭酸」が、他の既存麻酔剤に比べ、ストレスを軽減することを見出した。この成果は現存するストレス軽減魚類麻酔剤として炭酸を各機関に紹介し、魚類福祉に大きく貢献できると確信している。