Effects of crude brevetoxin on membrane potential and spontaneous or evoked end-plate potentials in rat hemidiaphragm

Proteomic modification in gills and brains of medaka fish (Oryzias melastigma) after exposure to a sodium channel activator neurotoxin, brevetoxin-1

Although brevetoxins (PbTxs) produced by the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis are known to be absorbed across gill membranes and exert their acute toxic effects through an ion-channel mediated pathway in neural tissue, the exact biochemical mechanism concerning PbTxs neurotoxicity in neural tissue and gas-exchange organs has not been well elucidated. In this study, we calculated the LC(50) value of PbTx-1 using the medaka fish model, and presented the molecular responses of sub-acute exposure to PbTx-1 with proteomic method. By adopting two-dimensional electrophoresis, the abundances of 14 and 24 proteins were found to be remarkably altered in the gills and brains, respectively, in response to toxin exposure. Thirteen gill and twenty brain proteins were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. These proteins could be categorized into diverse functional classes such as cell structure, macromolecule metabolism, signal transduction and neurotransmitter release. These findings can help to elucidate the possible pathways by which aquatic toxins affect marine organisms within target organs.

Comparative cytotoxicity of gambierol versus other marine neurotoxins

Many microalgae produce compounds that exhibit potent biological activities. Ingestion of marine organisms contaminated with those toxins results in seafood poisonings. In many cases, the lack of toxic material turns out to be an obstacle to make the toxicological investigations needed. In this study, we evaluate the cytotoxicity of several marine toxins on neuroblastoma cells, focusing on gambierol and its effect on cytosolic calcium levels. In addition, we compared the effects of this toxin with ciguatoxin, brevetoxin, and gymnocin-A, with which gambierol shares a similar ladder-like backbone, as well as with polycavernoside A analogue 5, a glycosidic macrolide toxin. For this purpose, different fluorescent dyes were used: Fura-2 to monitor variations in cytosolic calcium levels, Alamar Blue to detect cytotoxicity, and Oregon Green 514 Phalloidin to quantify and visualize modifications in the actin cytoskeleton. Data showed that, while gambierol and ciguatoxin were successful in producing a calcium influx in neuroblastoma cells, gymnocin-A was unable to modify this parameter. Nevertheless, none of the toxins induced morphological changes or alterations in the actin assembly. Although polycavernoside A analogue 5 evoked a sharp reduction of the cellular metabolism of neuroblastoma cells, gambierol scarcely reduced it, and ciguatoxin, brevetoxin, and gymnocin-A failed to produce any signs of cytotoxicity. According to this, sharing a similar polycyclic ether backbone is not enough to produce the same effects on neuroblastoma cells; therefore, more studies should be carried out with these toxins, whose effects may be being underestimated.

Differential actions of brevetoxin on phrenic nerve and diaphragm muscle in the rat

The mechanism of inhibition of skeletal muscle function by brevetoxin (PbTX-3) was examined in vitro in the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. PbTX-3 in low concentrations (< 0.06 microM) preferentially blocked conduction in the phrenic nerve without altering the resting membrane potential of the muscle fibers. Endplate potential failure occurred in an all-or-none fashion in the presence of PbTX-3 (> 0.06 microM). An increase in the frequency of miniature endplate potentials resulting from nerve terminal depolarization was observed only after endplate potential failure. Higher concentrations of toxin (> 0.3 microM) depressed directly-elicited muscle twitches and produced significant muscle membrane depolarization. Tetrodotoxin was effective in reversing membrane depolarization and alterations in MEPP frequency caused by PbTX-3. These findings suggest that diaphragmatic failure in PbTX-3 is primarily caused by a block of impulse conduction in the phrenic nerve due to a higher sensitivity of nerve than muscle membrane to the toxin.

Binding of brevetoxins and ciguatoxin to the voltage-sensitive sodium channel and conformational analysis of brevetoxin B

The marine toxins known generically as brevetoxins, as well as their structural relative ciguatoxin, are known as polyether ladder toxins, and bind uniquely to site 5 of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel. Rat brain synaptosome binding data show similarities in binding affinity for brevetoxins having the same structural (ladder) backbone, but different affinities between brevetoxins having different backbones. Ciguatoxin has a different backbone from the brevetoxins, but binds even more strongly to the same site. Could the flexibility of the backbone be related to their relative toxicities? As part of an effort to identify the common pharmacophore for the toxins, Monte Carlo methods were used to generate conformational models of the polyether ladder toxin brevetoxin B (PbTx-2) which shows significant flexibility at the juncture of the two 7-membered rings.

Effects of brevetoxin-B on motor nerve terminals of mouse skeletal muscle

1. The effects of brevetoxin-B, a red tide toxin, on motor nerve terminal activity were assessed on mouse triangularis sterni nerve-muscle preparations. The perineural waveforms were recorded with extracellular electrodes placed in the perineural sheaths of motor nerves. 2. At 0.11 microM, brevetoxin-B increased the components of waveforms associated with sodium and potassium currents while it decreased the calcium activated potassium current and the slow calcium current of the nerve terminal. The fast calcium current and slow potassium current were not affected. 3. At 1.11 microM, brevetoxin-B decreased all of the components of waveforms associated with sodium, potassium and calcium currents. 4. It is concluded that brevetoxin-B affects sodium, potassium as well as calcium currents in the nerve terminal. The effects may contribute to its pharmacological actions on synaptic transmission.

The actions of a red tide toxin from Ptychodiscus brevis on single sodium channels in mammalian neuroblastoma cells

The actions of brevetoxin (PbTX-3) were studied on single, voltage-dependent sodium channels and whole-cell currents from the neuroblastoma x glioma cell line NG108-15. Purified PbTX-3 shifted the activation of sodium channels to membrane potentials negative to normal. PbTX-3 did not alter the single-channel mean open lifetime, suggesting that the toxin does not change the rate of sodium channel inactivation from the open state. There was also no change in single-channel conductance. These results indicate that brevetoxin increases sodium current at rest by shifting the voltage dependence of channel activation and that the resulting depolarization is limited by channel inactivation.

Respiratory effects of brevetoxin and saxitoxin in awake guinea pigs

Ptychodiscus brevis toxin (brevetoxin) is associated with 'Florida red tide' and cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Saxitoxin is the agent of paralytic shellfish poisoning. Clinical reports of human intoxication suggest that both toxins affect the respiratory system. The toxins were administered by slow intravenous infusion. The effects of the toxins on respiratory function of awake guinea pigs in a pressure plethysmograph were studied. Both toxins caused lactic acidosis of unknown etiology, which was compensated for by increased minute volume with brevetoxin (PbTx-3)- but not with saxitoxin-intoxicated animals. In general, brevetoxin increased ventilation, before respiratory failure, while saxitoxin had a depressive effect on ventilation. Airways resistance was not increased, nor was dynamic compliance decreased during intoxication, although the data suggest that respiratory system failure was the primary cause of death. The responses seen in these experiments are consistent with the dissimilar molecular actions of these toxins.