Abstract
Behavioral observation was conducted to test whether olfaction is functional to detect tetrodotoxin (TTX) in tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes using Y-maze. We placed either agarose carrier or one agarose and one agarose containing TTX (200 MU) at each head of the channel of Y-maze. Then three non-toxic hatchery-reared juveniles (body length, 5.6 ± 0.4 cm; n = 18) were released into the Y-maze and pecking behavior to carrier was observed for 3 h. The same procedure was tested for olfactory-ablated juveniles and for juveniles taht received sham operation. Juveniles showed significant selectivity to TTX, except for olfactory-ablated juveniles. These results indicate that pufferfish detects TTX by olfactory organ.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hara TJ (1993) Role of olfaction in fish behavior. In: Pitcher TJ (ed) Behavior of teleost fishes. Springer, pp 171–200
Ikeda K, Murakami Y, Emoto Y, Ngy L, Taniyama S, Yagi M, Takatani T, Arakawa O (2009) Transfer profile of intramuscularly administ tetrodotoxin to non-toxic cultured specimens of the pufferfish Takifugu rubripes. Toxicon 53:99–103
Kamiya T, Kai W, Tasumi S, Oka A, Matsunaga T, Mizuno N, Fujita M, Suetake H, Suzuki S, Hosoya S, Tohari S, Brenner S, Miyadai T, Venkatesh B, Suzuki Y, Kikuchi K (2012) A trans-species missense SNP in Amhr2 is associated with sex determination in the tiger pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes (Fugu). PLoS genetics 8:e1002798
Lastein S, Hamdani EH, Døving KB (2006) Gender distinction in neural discrimination of sex pheromones in the olfactory bulb of crucian carp, Carassius carassius. Chem Senses 31:69–77
Matsui T, Sato H, Hamada S, Shimizu C (1982) Comparison of toxicity of the cultured and wild pufferfish Fugu niphobles. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 48:253
Matsui T, Taketsugu S, Sato H, Yamamori K, Kordama K, Ishii A, Hirose H, Shimizu C (1990) Toxification of cultured puffer fish by the administration of tetrodotoxin producing bacteria. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 56:705
Matsumura K (1995) Tetrodotoxin as a pheromone. Nature 378:563–564
Matsumura K (1998) Production of tetrodotoxin in puffer fish embryos. Environ Toxicol Phar 6:217–219
Matsuura S, Naito T, Shincho M, Yoshimura K, Matsuyama M (1994) Gonadal sex differentiation in tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes. Suisanzoshoku 42:619–625
Moore A, Scott AP (1992) 17 alpha, 20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 20-sulphate is a potent odorant in precocious male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr which have been pre-exposed to the urine of ovulated females. Proc Biol Sci 249:205–209
Nagashima Y, Mataki I, Toyoda M, Nakajima H, Tsumoto K, Shimakura K, Shiomi K (2010) Change in tetrodotoxin content of the puffer fish Takifugu rubripes during seed production from fertilized eggs to juveniles. Food Hyg Saf Sci 51:48
Nakashima K, Arakawa O, Taniyama S, Nonaka M, Takatani T, Yamamori K, Fuchi Y, Noguchi T (2004) Occurrence of saxitoxins as a major toxin in the ovary of a marine puffer Arothron firmamentum. Toxicon 43:207–212
Narita H, Matsubara S, Miwa N, Akahane S, Murakami M, Goto T, Nara M, Noguchi T, Saito T, Shida Y, Hashimoto K (1987) Vibrio alginolyticus, a TTX-producing bacterium isolated from the starfish Astropecten polyacanthus. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 47:935–941
Noguchi T, Arakawa O (2008) Tetrodotoxin—distribution and accumulation in aquatic organisms, and cases of human intoxication. Mar Drugs 6:220–242
Noguchi T, Arakawa O, Takatani T (2006a) TTX accumulation in pufferfish. Comp Biochem Physiol D1:145–152
Noguchi T, Arakawa O, Takatani T (2006b) Toxicity of pufferfish Takifugu rubripes cultured in netcages at the sea or aquaria on land. Comp Biochem Physiol D1:153–157
Noguchi T, Jeon JK, Arakawa O, Sugita H, Deguchi Y, Shida Y, Hashimoto K (1986) Occurrence of tetrodotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin in Vibrio sp. isolated from the intestines of a xanthid crab, Atergatis floridus. J Biochem 99:311–314
Saito T, Kageyu K, Goto H, Murakami K, Noguchi T (2000) Tetrodotoxin attracts pufferfish (“torafugu” Takifugu rubripes). Bull Inst Oceanic Res & Develop Tokai Univ 21:93–96
Saito T, Maruyama J, Kanoh S, Jeon JK, Noguchi T, Harada T, Murata O, Hashimoto K (1984) Toxicity of the cultured pufferfish Fugu rubripes rubripes along with their resistibility against tetrodotoxin. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 50:1573–1575
Sorensen PW, Hara TJ, Stacey NE, Goetz FWM (1988) F-prostaglandins function as potent olfactory stimulants that comprise the postovulatory female sex pheromone in goldfish. Biol Reprod 39:1039–1050
Yasumoto T, Yasumura D, Yotsu M, Michishita T, Endo A, Kotaki Y (1986) Bacterial production of tetrodotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin. Agric Biol Chem 50:793–795
Yasumoto T, Yotsu-Yamashita M (1996) Chemical and etiological studies on tetrodotoxin and its analogs. J Toxicol-Toxin Rev 15:81–90
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the constructive comments from the reviewers and the section editor on the earlier version of this manuscript. This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 21580227, 24380109 and 23580283) by JSPS, Japan.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Okita, K., Yamazaki, H., Sakiyama, K. et al. Puffer smells tetrodotoxin. Ichthyol Res 60, 386–389 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-013-0353-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-013-0353-z