A Comparative Chemical and Zootoxicological Study of Three Strongylocentrotid Sea Urchins

摘要

The pedicellariae (P) and spines (S) of three Strongylocentrotid sea urchins were found to possess high mol wt toxic proteins which were active in the crab and certain crab preparations. The site of action appears either at the axon or muscle membrane, and they may produce their effect by altering membrane permeability to K(+) and Na(+). These proteins are inactive in the cat and mouse. No low mol wt toxic components were detected. Moreover, in a toxopneustid species, both toxic proteins and a low mol wt component were isolated from their P and S. The protein(s) was lethal to the crab but inactive in the mouse. This protein(s) appears to act on the axon terminal membrane causing a neuro-muscular block. The low mol wt component is cholinomimetic in action; is active in the cat and mouse; inactive in the crab; and has been isolated, purified, and tentatively identified. Finally, EM morphology of gland sacs found in the P of one of the Strongylocentrotid species was shown to contain mucoid cells possessing vacuoles which are postulated to manufacture and store the toxin. (Author)