Tetrodotoxin starfish

Starfish. Finally, tetrodotoxin has been provisionally identified in... 

The puffer fish is probably the best known neurotoxic fish. Several related species of fish, as well as other marine life, such as some frogs, starfish, octopus, and others, contain tetrodotoxin. Many people consider this fish a delicacy despite the occasional death from poor preparation. Tetrodotoxin is heat stable but water soluble, so careful preparation is necessary to limit neurological effects. Symptoms of poisoning include a rapid onset of numbness in the lips and mouth, which then extends to the fingers and toes, followed by general weakness, dizziness, and respiratory failure, leading to death. The mechanism of action is similar to that of saxitoxin and affects sodium channel permeability. 

Fish Puffer fish (fugu) blowfish, toadfish. . . some frogs, starfish, ocopus Tetrodotoxin Nervous system numbness, paralysis, respiratory failure, death Decreased sodium channel permeability... 

Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number CAS 4368-28-9. Tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin produced by several species of starfish, crabs, salt-water fish, octopi, newts, and salamanders, blocks sodium channels within neurons. In a terrorist scenario, tetrodotoxin could be inhaled as an aerosol or ingested in contaminated food or water. Mortality may reach 50%. 

Lin, S.J. and Hwang, D.F. 2001. Possible source of tetrodotoxin in the starfish Astropecten scoparius. Toxicon 39, 573-579. 

Maruyama, J., Noguchi, T., Narita, EL, Nara, M., Jeon, J.K., Otsuka, M., and Hashimoto, K. 1985. Occurrence of tetrodotoxin in a starfish, Astropecten scoparius. Agric. Biol Chem. 49, 3069-3070. 

Noguchi, T., H. Narita, J. Maruyama, and K. Hashimoto Tetrodotoxin in the Starfish Astropecten poly acanthus, in Association with Toxification of a Trumpet Shell, Boshubora Charonia sauliae. Bull. Japan. Soc. Sci. Fish. 48, 1173 (1982). 

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