Anthoni U, Christophersen C, Gram L, Nielsen N H, Nielsen P
Marine Chemistry Section, H. C. Orsted Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Toxicon. 1991;29(10):1205-12. doi: 10.1016/0041-0101(91)90193-u.
The flesh of the Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus, especially in fresh condition, is toxic to both dog and man. Analysis of the toxic fractions indicates the presence of large amounts of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) but no other substances that could be directly responsible for the poisoning. The symptoms appear to be due to an acute trimethylamine (TMA) poisoning arising from intestinal reduction of TMAO to TMA. TMA stimulates contraction of the guinea-pig ileum (antagonized by atropine but not hexamethonium). Low concentrations of TMA increase contraction of the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, whereas higher concentrations cause blockade.
格陵兰鲨（小头睡鲨）的肉，尤其是新鲜状态下的，对狗和人类都有毒。对有毒成分的分析表明存在大量氧化三甲胺（TMAO），但没有其他可能直接导致中毒的物质。症状似乎是由于TMAO在肠道内还原为三甲胺（TMA）而引起的急性三甲胺中毒。TMA刺激豚鼠回肠收缩（可被阿托品拮抗，但不能被六甲铵拮抗）。低浓度的TMA会增加大鼠膈神经-膈肌标本的收缩，而高浓度则会导致阻断。
