title: Neuroexcitatory actions of ciguatoxin on brain regions associated with thermoregulation.
abstract: We have investigated the action of ciguatoxin (CTX) in the mouse following i.p. administration. CTX (0.5 mouse units) induced a rapid (10-20 min) decrease in body temperature that persisted for several hours. This corresponded closely with a neuroexcitatory action of ciguatoxin on c-fos mRNA in the brain. We identified the neuronal pathways activated by CTX action in the mouse brain by immunostaining of c-fos translational product, a biomarker for neuroexcitability. c-fos-like immunoreactivity was prominent in the hypothalamus, including the medial preoptic and supraoptic nuclei. Immunostaining was also evident in certain regions of the brain stem, including the locus coeruleus, dorsolateral parabranchial nucleus, area postrema and the nucleus of the solitary tract. These studies indicate that CTX has neuroexcitatory actions on brain stem regions receiving vagal afferents and ascending pathways associated with visceral and thermoregulatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biotoxins Program, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29412, USA.
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ramsdell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D035964:Oxocins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002922:Ciguatoxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D035964:Oxocins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C053342:brevetoxin; D000095702:Polyether Toxins