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 lunar is contained moderate amounts of toxin in almost all tissues, and the highest toxicity scores were 460 MU/g ovary, 380 MU/g intestine, and 100 MU/g muscle. In “komondamashi” Fugu alboplumbeus, the highest scores were 180 MU/g ovary and 120 MU/g liver. “Takifugu” F. oblongus, whose toxicity data have not been available thus far, was strongly toxic, the highest scores being 2,000 MU/g liver and 770 MU/g ovary. “Shippofugu” Amblyrhynchotes hypselogenion whose toxicity data were lacking was also strongly toxic. The highest scores were 750 MU/g ovary and 720 MU/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-Gel P-2. Analyses by electrophoresis, TLC, HPLC and GC-MS showed that the toxin from each species was composed of tetrodotoxin, anhydrotetrodotoxin and 4-epitetrodotoxin. In addition, a tetrodonic acid-like toxin was detected through the four species. © 1988, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.