Abstract
The phenomenon of slow onset of succinylcholine (Sch) effect in elephants was investigated by analyzing blood concentrations of Sch and its metabolite choline in elephant and impala. To assess whether the slow onset phenomenon is related to the pharmacokinetics of Sch following i.m. administration, we analyzed the time course of plasma concentrations of intact drug and its metabolite and determined its pharmacological effects. Blood samples were obtained from anaesthetized elephant ( n=6) and impala ( n=7) following i.m. administration of a lethal dose of Sch. Time from Sch injection to onset of apnoea and to death was significantly longer for elephant than impala (mean±S.D. apnoea 4.4±1.5 and 2.3±0.9 min, respectively; death 32.6±7.3 and 6.2±3.4 min, respectively). The C max was not different between elephants and impala (20.3±7.9 vs. 14.4±6.8 nmol ml −1, respectively) but the t max was significantly longer for elephants (23.0±7.6 vs. 3.7±2.2 min). Analysis of the plasma Sch and choline concentrations over time revealed that the relative amount of Sch entering the circulation within the first 30 s after i.m. injection is greater for impala than elephant. No greater rate in the plasma hydrolysis of Sch in elephant compared to impala was apparent.
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