Venomtech Limited, Kent Enterprise Hub, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, Kent, UK.
J Exp Biol. 2012 Dec 15;215(Pt 24):4237-41. doi: 10.1242/jeb.074997. Epub 2012 Sep 20.
As scientific understanding of invertebrate life increases, so does the concern for how to end that life in an effective way that minimises (potential) suffering and is also safe for those carrying out the procedure. There is increasing debate on the most appropriate euthanasia methods for invertebrates as their use in experimental research and zoological institutions grows. Their popularity as pet species has also led to an increase in the need for greater veterinary understanding. Through the use of a local injection of potassium chloride (KCl) initially developed for use in American lobsters, this paper describes a safe and effective method for euthanasia in terrestrial invertebrates. Initial work focused on empirically determining the dose for cockroaches, which was then extrapolated to other arthropod species. For this method of euthanasia, we propose the term 'targeted hyperkalosis' to describe death through terminal depolarisation of the thoracic ganglia as a result of high potassium concentration.
随着对无脊椎动物生命的科学认识的提高，人们越来越关注如何以一种有效的方式结束这种生命，最大限度地减少（潜在）的痛苦，并且对执行该程序的人也是安全的。随着无脊椎动物在实验研究和动物园机构中的使用不断增加，人们对最适合的无脊椎动物安乐死方法的争论也越来越多。它们作为宠物物种的普及也导致了人们对兽医理解的需求增加。通过使用最初为美国龙虾开发的局部氯化钾 (KCl) 注射，本文描述了一种安全有效的陆地无脊椎动物安乐死方法。最初的工作集中在通过实验确定蟑螂的剂量，然后将其推断到其他节肢动物物种。对于这种安乐死方法，我们提出了“靶向高钾血症”一词来描述由于高钾浓度导致胸部神经节终末去极化而导致的死亡。
