MARINE TOXINS AND VENOMOUS AND POISONOUS MARINE ANUS
299
duct of C. californicus. The lethal component was non-dialyzable,
heat labile, and at pH 8 it was stable for 1 day at 6°C and for several
weeks at -20°C. No lethal activity could be demonstrated with extracts
from the bulb. I n mice the LD,, was approximately 2.4 mg protein
per kg body weight ; this was an amount equivalent to the contents of
1.6 venom ducts. I n mammals, small amounts of the venom produced
a decrease in systemic arterial pressure and cardiac rate, and an increase
in respirations. Larger amounts caused more profound cardiovascular
changes, and respiratory arrest. Positive pressure breathing did not
prevent death in those cases where severe cardiac changes and cessation
of respirations occurred (Whysner and Saunders, 1963).
Asano and Itoh (1960) have demonstrated that the salivary poison
of the gastropod Neptunea arthritica, which is sometimes eaten in Japan,
is tetramine. They suggest that histamine, choline and choline ester
also found in the salivary glands of this mollusc act synergistically with
the tetramine in producing the poisoning. Fknge (1960) notes that in
N. antiqua, the tetramine is probably responsible for almost all of the
biological activity of the salivary gland extract. He found that approximately 1% of the gland consists of tetramine.
The role of pharmacologically active choline esters in certain
Muricidae hypobranchial glands is not known (Whittaker, 1960). While
the hypobranchial gland is thought by some to be a venom organ, this
has not been established. It is difficult to propose, on the basis of the
substances identified from the gland, the role of this structure in
Muricidae. Extracts of the gland contain urocanylcholine, which
combines the ganglion-stimulating properties of acetylcholine with a
strong neuromuscular blocking action (Erspamer and Glllsser, 1967).
The digestive glands of the sea hares, Aplysia vaccaria and A .
californica, contain a toxin which is water and acetone soluble, and
which produces muscular weakness and death in mice and chicks.
Frogs are more resistant to the poison (Winkler, 1961).
Homarine appears to be widely distributed in mollusca, particularly
in the squid Loligo and the welk Busycon, although its significance in
these animals is not understood.
2. Cephlopoda
An impressive number of substances have been isolated from or
identified in the salivary glands of various cephalopods since the
early contributions of Bert (1867) and Lo Bianco (1888). Many of these
substances have known biological activities, although these activities
are not always apparent in the physiopharmacological effect of the
whole toxin; and some substances either do not have a significant
299
duct of C. californicus. The lethal component was non-dialyzable,
heat labile, and at pH 8 it was stable for 1 day at 6°C and for several
weeks at -20°C. No lethal activity could be demonstrated with extracts
from the bulb. I n mice the LD,, was approximately 2.4 mg protein
per kg body weight ; this was an amount equivalent to the contents of
1.6 venom ducts. I n mammals, small amounts of the venom produced
a decrease in systemic arterial pressure and cardiac rate, and an increase
in respirations. Larger amounts caused more profound cardiovascular
changes, and respiratory arrest. Positive pressure breathing did not
prevent death in those cases where severe cardiac changes and cessation
of respirations occurred (Whysner and Saunders, 1963).
Asano and Itoh (1960) have demonstrated that the salivary poison
of the gastropod Neptunea arthritica, which is sometimes eaten in Japan,
is tetramine. They suggest that histamine, choline and choline ester
also found in the salivary glands of this mollusc act synergistically with
the tetramine in producing the poisoning. Fknge (1960) notes that in
N. antiqua, the tetramine is probably responsible for almost all of the
biological activity of the salivary gland extract. He found that approximately 1% of the gland consists of tetramine.
The role of pharmacologically active choline esters in certain
Muricidae hypobranchial glands is not known (Whittaker, 1960). While
the hypobranchial gland is thought by some to be a venom organ, this
has not been established. It is difficult to propose, on the basis of the
substances identified from the gland, the role of this structure in
Muricidae. Extracts of the gland contain urocanylcholine, which
combines the ganglion-stimulating properties of acetylcholine with a
strong neuromuscular blocking action (Erspamer and Glllsser, 1967).
The digestive glands of the sea hares, Aplysia vaccaria and A .
californica, contain a toxin which is water and acetone soluble, and
which produces muscular weakness and death in mice and chicks.
Frogs are more resistant to the poison (Winkler, 1961).
Homarine appears to be widely distributed in mollusca, particularly
in the squid Loligo and the welk Busycon, although its significance in
these animals is not understood.
2. Cephlopoda
An impressive number of substances have been isolated from or
identified in the salivary glands of various cephalopods since the
early contributions of Bert (1867) and Lo Bianco (1888). Many of these
substances have known biological activities, although these activities
are not always apparent in the physiopharmacological effect of the
whole toxin; and some substances either do not have a significant