Toxicological studies on several species of puffer in Taiwan.

Abstract

Forty-five specimens of four puffer species landed at fish markets in Taiwan were assayed for anatomical distribution of toxicity. “Dokusabafugu” Lagocephalus lunaris contained moderate amounts of toxin in almost all tissues, and the highest toxicity scores were 460MU/g ovary, 380MU/g intestine, and 100MU/g muscle. In “komondamashi” Fugu alboplumbeus, the hlghest scores were 180MU/g ovary and 120MU/g livei. “Takifugu” F. oblongus, whose toxicity data have not been available thus far, was strongly toxic, the highest scores being 2, 000MU/g liver and 770MU/g ovary. “Shippofugu” Amblyrhynchotes hypselogenion whose toxicity data were lacking was also strongly toxic. The highest scores were 750MU/g ovary and 720MU/g liver. The toxin was partially purified from the toxic liver of each species by ultrafiltration using a Diaflo YM-2 membrane, followed by chromatography on Bio-Gei P-2. Analyses by electrophoresis, TLC, HPLC and GC-MS showed that the toxin from each species was composed of tetro-dotoxin, anhydrotehodotoxin and 4-epitetrodotoxin. In addition, a tetrodonic acid-like toxin was detected through the four species.