Toxicity assessment of the puffer fish Lagocephalus lagocephalus from the Tunisian coast

C R Biol. 2008 Aug;331(8):611-6. doi: 10.1016/j.crvi.2008.05.005. Epub 2008 Jun 27.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the risk of poisoning due to consumption of the puffer fish Lagocephalus lagocephalus collected along the Tunisian coast. Wistar rats were daily intraperitoneally injected, for 10 days, with acidic extracts of liver or flesh (muscles + skin) of L. lagocephalus. Control rats received injections of NaCl (0.9%). No mortality and no evident signs of neurotoxicity were recorded in treated rats. Conversely, treatment led to: (1) diarrhoea and body and organ (liver, kidney) weights loss; (2) oxidative stress evidenced by an increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and conversely a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, catalase, GSH-Px) in tissues (blood cells, liver, kidneys); (3) a decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in blood plasma.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Blood Cells / drug effects
  • Blood Cells / enzymology
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / enzymology
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / enzymology
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Male
  • Marine Toxins / toxicity*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Tetraodontiformes / physiology*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Tunisia

Substances

  • Marine Toxins
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Catalase
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase