Tetrodotoxin

Synonyms

(4R-(4alpha,4aalpha,5alpha,7alpha,9alpha,10alpha,10abeta,11S*,12S*))-Octahydro-12-(hydroxymethyl)-2-imino-5,9:7,10a-dimethano-10aH-(1,3)dioxocino(6,5-d) pyrimidine-4,7,10,11,12-pentol; 5,9:7,10a-Dimethano-10aH-(1,3)dioxocino(6,5-d)pyrimidine-4,7,10,11,12-pentol, octahydro-12-(hydroxymethyl)-2-imino-, (4R-(4alpha,4aalpha,5alpha,7alpha,9alpha,10alpha,10abeta,11S*,12S*))-; BJT 1; Babylonia japonica toxin 1; Fugu poison; Maculotoxin; Octahydro-12-(hydroxymethyl)-2-imino-5,9:7,10a-dimethano-10aH-(1,3)dioxocino(6,5-d)pyrimidine-4,7,10,11,12-pentol; Spheroidine; TTX; Tarichatoxin; Tetrodontoxin; Tetrodotoxine; Tetrodoxin; [ChemIDplus] UN3462

Category

Seafood Toxins

Description

Solid; [HSDB] Colorless solid; [NIOSH] White powder; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Toxin from the ovaries and liver of Tetraodontidae species (especially the globe fish); [Merck Index] Used for physiological studies; [HSDB] Very potent toxin from the liver and sex organs of fish (i.e., puffer fish, globe fish, and toadfish); Also found in some amphibians, octopus, and shellfish; [Reference #1]

Comments

Poisonings result from ingestion; Interferes with nerve to muscle signal transmission (blocks sodium channels) causing rapid muscle weakness and paralysis; May cause respiratory paralysis and death; [Reference #1] Onset of action after ingestion is 30-40 minutes. Symptoms include vomiting, paresthesias, muscle twitching, weakness, and respiratory paralysis. [Olson, p. 247] May cause irritation; May be fatal by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption; Targets nerves and skeletal muscles; [MSDSonline]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Explanatory Notes

The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Toxins, extracted from living sources, solid, n.o.s."

must be preheated

Other CNS neurotoxin

Other Information

No other related information on this agent was found.