Tissue Distribution of Toxicity in a Pufferfish, Arothron Firmamentum (Hoshifugu)

Abstract

Thirty-one specimens of “hoshifugu” pufferfish, Arothron firmamentum, consisting of 16 males and 15 females were obtained from the coastal seas off Oita and Yamaguchi in the fall of 1990. Muscle, skin, liver, gonad and digestive tract were examined for toxicity by means of the mouse assay method. The toxicity of the skin was at rather weak level and was higher in females than males: the frequency (%) of toxic specimens was 12.5% in males and 33.3% in females, and the maximum lethal potency was 30.6 MU/g in males and 43.6 MU/g in females. The ovary was more toxic: the frequency (%) of toxic specimens was 80.0% and the maximum lethal potency was 888 MU/g. The toxicity of the digestive tract was at weak level, while that of the muscle, liver, and testis was lower than 10 MU/g. The “hoshifugu” pufferfish has been characterized as having equivocal toxicity, but the above results indicate that this species should be re-classified as toxic. © 1991, Japanese Society for Food Hygiene and Safety. All rights reserved.