Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan.
Toxicon. 2010 Feb-Mar;55(2-3):289-97. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.08.001. Epub 2009 Aug 11.
From October 2006 to December 2007, wild specimens of the pufferfish Takifugu poecilonotus (93 females, 45 males) were collected from the Ariake Sea. Tissue toxicity was examined by mouse bioassay, and tetrodotoxin (TTX) content in the blood plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between toxicity and maturation was investigated based on changes in the gonadosomatic index: December-March in females and November-March in males, the 'maturation period'; April, 'just after spawning'; and the other months, the 'ordinary period'. Toxicity of both sexes was high throughout the year, but sharply declined in April. In all tissues examined (skin, liver, and ovary) other than testis, toxicity exceeded 1000 MU/g or 10,000 MU/individual in many individuals. Seasonal profiles of tissue toxicity differed markedly between sexes. In females, liver toxicity was high during the ordinary period, and ovary toxicity was high during the maturation period. In males, little maturation-associated change in the toxin distribution was observed. Plasma TTX levels were similar between the sexes (1.59-15.1 MU/ml), and fluctuated largely throughout the year without corresponding changes in tissue toxicity. The percentage of TTX binding to high molecular-weight substances in the plasma varied in association with maturation; the binding ratio fluctuated at relatively low levels during the ordinary period, and stabilized at a high level during the maturation period.
从 2006 年 10 月到 2007 年 12 月，从有明海采集了野生的暗纹东方鲀（Takifugu poecilonotus）标本（93 只雌鱼，45 只雄鱼）。采用小鼠生物测定法检查组织毒性，采用酶联免疫吸附测定法检查血浆中的河豚毒素（TTX）含量。根据性腺指数的变化研究了毒性与成熟度的关系：雌性为 12 月至 3 月，雄性为 11 月至 3 月，为“成熟时期”；4 月为“产卵后”；其余月份为“普通时期”。雌雄两性的毒性全年都很高，但 4 月急剧下降。除了睾丸之外的所有检查组织（皮肤、肝脏和卵巢）中，许多个体的毒性都超过了 1000MU/g 或 10000MU/个体。组织毒性的季节性变化在两性之间有明显的差异。在雌性中，普通时期肝脏毒性较高，而成熟时期卵巢毒性较高。在雄性中，毒素分布几乎没有与成熟相关的变化。雌雄两性的血浆 TTX 水平相似（1.59-15.1MU/ml），并在全年波动较大，而组织毒性没有相应变化。血浆中 TTX 与高分子物质的结合百分比与成熟度有关；结合率在普通时期波动在相对较低的水平，在成熟时期稳定在较高的水平。
