title: Organic neurotoxins in seafoods.
abstract: Toxins formed by organic micro-organisms may accumulate within certain tissues of predacious sea animals, which may serve as a source of seafood poisoning for the higher food chain. Such toxins are distinct from inorganic chemicals or infectious agents which may have contaminated the seafoods. Distinct clinical syndromes have emerged, and the individual toxins have been identified. Clinical manifestations of each begin with a gastrointestinal prodrome and headache, followed by sensorimotor deficits. Bulbar and cognitive changes are associated with the more lethal tetrodotoxin, saxitoxin, and domoic acid toxin. Tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin block sodium channels, while ciguatoxin opens them. Domoic acid stimulates excitatory amino acids at the NMDA receptors.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii, Neurology Service, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu 96859, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Watters
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000209:etiology; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008353:Mannitol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017747:Seafood; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015222:Sodium Channels; D002922:Ciguatoxins; D012530:Saxitoxin; D008353:Mannitol; D013779:Tetrodotoxin