Puffer smells tetrodotoxin

作者：Okita Kogen; Yamazaki Hideki; Sakiyama Kazutaka; Yamane Hikaru; Niina Shinya; Takatani Tomohiro; Arakawa Osamu; Sakakura Yoshitaka^*

来源：Ichthyological Research, 2013, 60(4): 386-389.

DOI：10.1007/s10228-013-0353-z

• Takifugu rubripes
• Tetrodotoxin
• Sensing mechanism
• Olfaction

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 +/- A 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.

• 出版日期2013-11