| Title: | Larval pufferfish protected by maternal tetrodotoxin |
| Author(s): | Itoi S; Yoshikawa S; Asahina K; Suzuki M; Ishizuka K; Takimoto N; Mitsuoka R; Yokoyama N; Detake A; Takayanagi C; Eguchi M; Tatsuno R; Kawane M; Kokubo S; Takanashi S; Miura A; Suitoh K; Takatani T; Arakawa O; Sakakura Y; Sugita H; |
| Address: | "Department of Marine Science and Resources, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan. Electronic address: sitoi@nihon-u.ac.jp. Department of Marine Science and Resources, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan. Graduate School of Fisheries Science and Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo 1-14, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan. Department of Sea-Farming, Aichi Fish Farming Institute, Tahara, Aichi 441-3618, Japan" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.11.003 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-3150 (Electronic) 0041-0101 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Marine pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin (TTX), an extremely potent neurotoxin. All species of the genus Takifugu accumulate TTX in the liver and ovaries, although the tissue(s) in which it is localized can differ among species. TTX is the major defense strategy the pufferfish appears to use against predators. TTX is also used as a male-attracting pheromone during spawning. Here we demonstrate an additional (and unexpected) use of maternal TTX in the early larval stages of the Takifugu pufferfish. Predation experiments demonstrated that juveniles of all the species of fish used as predators ingested pufferfish larvae, but spat them out promptly. Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MSMS) analysis revealed that the pufferfish larvae contain a small quantity of TTX, which is not enough to be lethal to the predators. Immunohistochemical analysis with anti-TTX monoclonal antibody revealed that the TTX is primarily localized in the body surface of the larvae as a layer of protection. Our study showed the female parent of the Takifugu pufferfish vertically transfers TTX to the larvae through its accumulation in the ovaries, and subsequent localization on the body surface of the larvae" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Antibodies, Monoclonal Bass/physiology Chromatography, Liquid Female Flounder/physiology Immunohistochemistry Japan Larva/chemistry/growth & development Ovary/chemistry Ovum/chemistry Predatory Behavior/*drug effects/physiology Skin/chemistry Taki;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineItoi, Shiro Yoshikawa, Saori Asahina, Kiyoshi Suzuki, Miwa Ishizuka, Kento Takimoto, Narumi Mitsuoka, Ryoko Yokoyama, Naoto Detake, Ayumi Takayanagi, Chie Eguchi, Miho Tatsuno, Ryohei Kawane, Mitsuo Kokubo, Shota Takanashi, Shihori Miura, Ai Suitoh, Katsuyoshi Takatani, Tomohiro Arakawa, Osamu Sakakura, Yoshitaka Sugita, Haruo eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2013/11/28 Toxicon. 2014 Feb; 78:35-40. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.11.003. Epub 2013 Nov 23" |
