Tetraodotoxin is a kind of extremely potent toxin which exists in the liver and sex organs of some fishes including pufferfish, porcupine fish, ocean sunfish, and toadfish as well as some kind of amphibian, octopus and shellfish species. It is also produced by some bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Vibrio. Tetraodotoxin is extremely toxic to human, interfering with the transmission of signals of nerves to muscles and further causing paralysis of the body muscle. It can be fatal in some cases. Its mechanism of action is inhibiting the firing of action potentials in nerves through binding to the voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cell membrane and blocking the passages of sodium ions into the nerve cell. People should wear proper protective equipment upon operations and should be subject to proper treatment upon suffering from it. However, it has been under investigation on the treatment of chronic and breakthrough pain in advanced cancer patients.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750019.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrodotoxin
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a selective sodium channel blocker
nonprotein heat-stable toxin. The mechanism of toxicity is
through the blockage of fast voltage-gated sodium channels.
The consumption of toxic amounts of TTX results primarily in
neurologic and gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. TTX is
widely distributed in marine taxa such as pufferfish and
porcupine fish (suborders of the Tetraodontiformes order),
salamanders of the family Salamandridae, Central American
frogs (genus Atelopus), shellfish, starfish, crabs, and some
species of ribbonworm and octopus. However, in terrestrial
taxa, it is limited to a single class of vertebrates (Amphibia).
TTX is now known to be produced not by puffer but by
bacteria, and reaches various species of animals via food chain.
Tetrodotoxin is a highly selective, reversible sodium channel blocker.
TTX is an extremely popular chemical tool in the physiological
and pharmacological laboratories since discovery of its channel
blocking action in the early 1960s. Some potential therapeutic
uses include suppressing pain in cancer patients, preventing
ischemic damage of the brain that follows stroke, relieving the
symptoms of withdrawal in opiate addicts, and using it as
anesthetic agent.
ChEBI: A quinazoline alkaloid that is a marine toxin isolated from fish such as puffer fish. It has been shown to exhibit potential neutotoxicity due to its ability to block voltage-gated sodium channels.
Selective inhibitor of Na + channel conductance. Binding is reversible and of high affinity (K d = 1-10 nM). Blocks in a use-dependent manner.
Poison by ingestion,
intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and
intravenous routes. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Nox.
TTX is a selective sodium channel blocker that can block nerve
and muscle conductions; action potentials are blocked while
resting membrane potentials and resting membrane resistance
are not affected. TTX blocks axonal transmission by lowering
the conductance of sodium at nodes of Ranvier. Vomiting
occurs because the toxin can act directly at or near the
chemoreceptor trigger zone. Respiratory depression is caused
by either a specific action of tetrodotoxin on the brain’s respiratory
center or because paralysis of respiratory nerves and
muscles occurs.
