Loss of skin alkaloids in poison toads, Melanophryniscus klappenbachi (Anura: Bufonidae) when fed alkaloid-free diet

Dietrich Mebs; Werner Pogoda; Stefan W Toennes

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.06.075

Loss of skin alkaloids in poison toads, Melanophryniscus klappenbachi (Anura: Bufonidae) when fed alkaloid-free diet

Toxicon. 2018 Aug:150:267-269. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.06.075. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Authors

Dietrich Mebs¹, Werner Pogoda², Stefan W Toennes²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University of Frankfurt, D-60596, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: mebs@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
² Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University of Frankfurt, D-60596, Frankfurt, Germany.

PMID: 29913195
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.06.075

Abstract

Toads of the genus Melanophryniscus contain toxic alkaloids sequestered from a diet of mainly ants and mites. Wild-caught specimens of M. klappenbachi were fed an alkaloid-free diet and their alkaloid profile was analyzed during 38 months in captivity. Individual alkaloid patterns varied considerably. Over time, the concentration of two alkaloids, pumiliotoxin 251D and 3,5-disubstituted indolizidine 195B, significantly declined, suggesting that the toads depend on continuous access to alkaloid-containing prey to maintain natural levels of their chemical defense.

Keywords: Bufonidae; Indolizidine; Melanophryniscus klappenbachi; Pumiliotoxin; Skin alkaloids.

MeSH terms

Alkaloids / administration & dosage*
Alkaloids / chemistry
Alkaloids / metabolism*
Animal Feed / analysis*
Animals
Bufonidae / physiology*
Diet / veterinary*
Molecular Structure
Skin / metabolism*

Substances

Alkaloids