Tetrodotoxin-unaffected depolarization of frog muscles induced by the venom of jellyfish (genus Aurelia).

Kihara, Hiroshi; Anraku, Mitsuo; Ohno, Motonori; Hashimura, Saburô

doi:10.2170/jjphysiol.38.839

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Lanes 1-6 fishing tentacles of C. cap 1-5, lanes 6-10 oral arms of C. cap 1-5 vivo experiments whereby proteinaceous extracts from this medusa were administered to rabbits showed an induction of paralysis and glomerulonephritis (Wiersbitzky et al, 1973). A protein extract from whole A. aurita specimens caused muscle depolarization, indicating changes in sodium channel activity (Kihara et al, 1988). However, these two studies did not deal with causative toxins that may have been involved in the physiological observations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gill cell toxicity of northern boreal scyphomedusae Cyanea capillata and Aurelia aurita measured by an in vitro cell assay

Helmholz¹,

Johnston

Ruhnau³

et al. 2010

Hydrobiologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Scyphozoan medusae are very successful foragers which occasionally occur in high abundances in boreal waters and may impact many different groups in the marine ecosystem by means of a variety of toxins. A rainbow trout gill cell line, RTgill-W1, was tested for its suitability as quantitative indicator of the cytotoxicity of Cyanea capillata and Aurelia aurita; the major scyphozoan species in the North and Baltic seas. Cultures of rainbow trout gill cells were exposed to whole venoms extracted from fishing tentacles and oral arms at increasing protein concentrations. The venom caused detachment, clumping and lysis of cells, as well as a drop in vitality, in a dose-dependent manner. Morphological changes in the cells were evident within 1 h after venom addition. The damage to gill cells was quantified by measuring the metabolic activity of the cells by means of the fluorescence of resorufin derived from the nonfluorescent substrate, resazurin. In general, a decrease in the metabolic activity of the cells was detected at a venom (protein) concentration above 2.0 lg ml -1 (corresponding to 0.2 lg 10 4 cells -1 ), and a total loss of activity was observed above 40.0 lg ml -1 (corresponding to 4.0 lg 10 4 cells -1 ). C. capillata venoms had increased cytotoxic activity as compared to A. aurita venoms at the same concentration. Cnidocyst extracts from oral arms of A. aurita induced an 85% loss of gill cell viability at concentrations of 0.2 lg 10 4 cells -1 , whereas crude venoms from fishing tentacles reduced cell viability by 18% at the same concentration. Gel electrophoresis of the venoms indicated that these consist of a large number of proteins in a fairly wide size range, from 6 to 200 kDa, including some that are the same size as those found in cubomedusae. It also appears that larger (i.e., older) medusae have more complex venoms and, in some cases, more potent venoms than smaller animals.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gill cell toxicity of northern boreal scyphomedusae Cyanea capillata and Aurelia aurita measured by an in vitro cell assay

Helmholz¹,

Johnston

Ruhnau³

et al. 2010

Hydrobiologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The venom from Aurelia was shown to effect isolated frog muscle, as a complete and irreversible block of indirectly and directly elicited muscle twitches and an irreversible depolarization of the muscle membrane, probably caused by an increase in membrane permeability to sodium ions [111]. …”

Section: Cnidarian Jellyfish Venomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The production of natural toxins is an interesting aspect, which characterizes the physiology and the ecology of a number of marine species that use them for defence/offence purposes. Cnidarians are of particular concern from this point of view; their venoms are contained in specialized structures–the nematocysts–which, after mechanical or chemical stimulation, inject the venom in the prey or in the attacker. Cnidarian stinging is a serious health problem for humans in the zones where extremely venomous jellyfish or anemones are common, such as in temperate and tropical oceanic waters and particularly along several Pacific coasts, and severe cases of envenomation, including also lethal cases mainly induced by cubomedusae, were reported. On the contrary, in the Mediterranean region the problem of jellyfish stings is quite modest, even though they can have anyhow an impact on public health and be of importance from the ecological and economic point of view owing to the implications on ecosystems and on some human activities such as tourism, bathing and fishing. This paper reviews the knowledge about the various aspects related to the occurrence and the stinging of the Mediterranean scyphozoan jellyfish as well as the activity of their venoms.

show abstract

“…However, significant envenomation has been described for its stings, characterized by local pain, intense itching, ulceration, and appearance of vesiculopapular erythematous eruptions [6,7]. A. aurita crude venom and partially purified fractions have been reported to produce hemolysis, cytotoxicity, dermonecrosis, lethality, neurotoxicity, and to contain phospholipase activity [7,8,9,10,11,12]. In particular, only a few studies have focused on characterizing A. aurita neurotoxins.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, Segura-Puertas et al [7] reported some protein fractions that caused paralysis and death of crabs when tested in vivo . Likewise, Kihara and colleagues [10] demonstrated that a venom preparation caused depolarization of frog muscle membranes that was attributed mainly to sodium ion influx. A similar feature has been suggested for other scyphozoan jellyfish venoms that appear to induce the opening or activation of non-selective cationic channels and a subsequent increase of inward sodium-elicited currents [13,14,15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Results of the in Vivo and in Vitro Characterization of a Tentacle Venom Fraction from the Jellyfish Aurelia aurita

Ponce

López‐Vera

Aguilar

et al. 2013

Toxins

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The neurotoxic effects produced by a tentacle venom extract and a fraction were analyzed and correlated by in vivo and in vitro approaches. The tentacle venom extract exhibited a wide range of protein components (from 24 to >225 kDa) and produced tetanic reactions, flaccid paralysis, and death when injected into crabs. Two chromatography fractions also produced uncontrolled appendix movements and leg stretching. Further electrophysiological characterization demonstrated that one of these fractions potently inhibited ACh-elicited currents mediated by both vertebrate fetal and adult muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) subtypes. Receptor inhibition was concentration-dependent and completely reversible. The calculated IC50 values were 1.77 μg/μL for fetal and 2.28 μg/μL for adult muscle nAChRs. The bioactive fraction was composed of a major protein component at ~90 kDa and lacked phospholipase A activity. This work represents the first insight into the interaction of jellyfish venom components and muscle nicotinic receptors.

show abstract

Tetrodotoxin-unaffected depolarization of frog muscles induced by the venom of jellyfish (genus Aurelia).

Cited by 13 publications

References 12 publications

Gill cell toxicity of northern boreal scyphomedusae Cyanea capillata and Aurelia aurita measured by an in vitro cell assay

Gill cell toxicity of northern boreal scyphomedusae Cyanea capillata and Aurelia aurita measured by an in vitro cell assay

Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae

Preliminary Results of the in Vivo and in Vitro Characterization of a Tentacle Venom Fraction from the Jellyfish Aurelia aurita

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About