The difference between salamander toxin and tetrodotoxin

Salamanders are tailed amphibians, similar in size to lizards, mostly bright and beautiful, but poisonous. Tetrodotoxin is an alkaloid found in fugu fish (commonly known as puffer fish) and other organisms. Its molecular formula is C11H17O8N3 and its molecular weight is 319.Let 's take a look at the difference between salamander toxin and tetrodotoxin.

The difference between salamander toxin and tetrodotoxin

The salamander's tiny glands contain a deadly bacterium that can be used to produce a toxin called tetrodotoxin, which is not just similar, but has exactly the same molecular structure. TTX is a ubiquitous toxin, because some organisms at the top of the food chain are enriched and become a "biochemical weapon". Because tetrodotoxin is a typical carrier, it is called tetrodotoxin. When salamanders are attacked, they secrete this deadly neurotoxin immediately.

Which animals contain tetrodotoxin?

In the late 1970s, it was believed that the toxin in salamanders was tetrodotoxin. Since then, flatworms, parrotfish, starfish, marine nematodes, arrow worms, sea squirts, fairy fish, fan crabs, nematodes that feed on farmed oysters, spindle snails and other gastropods have been found one after another. In addition, there is the American toe frog, which is mottled and is a tropical "poison arrow" frog. Recently, tetrodotoxin has also been found in three species of throat fish from Taiwan.

How toxic is tetrodotoxin?

1. Tetrodotoxin, an amino-perhydroquinazoline compound, is one of the most toxic neurotoxins found in nature, and was once considered to be the most toxic non-protein toxin in nature. The LD50 of mice injected intraperitoneally is 8 μ g / kg, its toxicity is more than 1250 times higher than cyanide, and 0.5mg can kill people. The toxin has a local stimulating effect on the intestinal tract, and quickly acts on the nerve endings and nerve centers after absorption, which can block the sodium channels on the nerve excitation membrane with high selectivity and affinity, hinder nerve conduction, and cause nerve paralysis and death.

2. The chemical and thermal properties of tetrodotoxin are very stable, which can not be destroyed by general cooking methods such as salting or solarization, and can be decomposed only when heated at high temperature for more than 30 minutes or under alkaline conditions. The toxin could be completely destroyed by 220 ℃ heating for 20 minutes and 60 minutes. The incubation period of poisoning is very short, ranging from 10 to 30 minutes to 3 to 6 hours. The disease is urgent, if the rescue is not timely, the fastest death after poisoning within 10 minutes, the latest death within 4-6 hours, the lack of effective rescue measures after poisoning. Pure toxin has a wide range of uses in medicine and has high commercial value.

3. There is no specific antidote for tetrodotoxin at home and abroad, and comprehensive symptomatic treatment measures are generally adopted, such as early taking 1% copper sulfate 100 ml to induce vomiting, gastric lavage with 1Suzhou 5000 potassium permanganate or 0.2% activated carbon suspension, intravenous injection of hyperosmotic or isotonic glucose solution to promote the excretion of toxins as soon as possible and maintain breathing. Large doses of scopolamine drugs including atropine, scopolamine, anisodamine and anisodine have significant effects on the treatment of puffer fish poisoning. Patients with muscle paralysis can be injected intramuscularly with 2 ml strychnine hydrochloride and vitamin B2 and B6 to remove paralysis. Caffeine, kaempferol ketone and sodium thiosulfate are also injected intravenously with normal saline, and symptomatic treatment measures such as rehydration can be taken.