Puffer fish is highly poisonous, why do so many people still want to try it?

The taste of puffer fish is delicious and delicate, and the micro-poisoning sensation produced by fish poison makes people feel more comfortable, so there is a saying that they eat puffer fish desperately.

Scientists have found that tetrodotoxin is a marine algae that is ingested by puffer fish that contains tetrodotoxin and is present in the body through its own transformation. The pufferfish, which is originally poisonous, loses its toxicity if its seedlings are brought to a pond and raised in captivity. However, if it is fed bait containing tetrodotoxin, it will poison and thus re-produce tetrodotoxin.

The production of tetrodotoxin is not only closely related to puffer fish bait, but also related to the mechanism of puffer fish itself to accept the toxin. Although there is a large amount of seaweed containing tetrodotoxin growing in the same area, some puffer fish eat it and others do not eat it, so there is a difference between poisonous and non-poisonous puffer fish.

Tetrodotoxin is a selective blocker of sodium channels in cell membranes. The blockade of sodium ion channels in the cell membrane leads to the depolarization of the cell membrane, which specifically interferes with the conduction process of the nerve and muscle. In vitro experiments have proved that tetrodotoxin has a very strong affinity for some parts of the cell membrane, even if it is a very dilute solution (10 8m), the cell membrane surface only adsorbs a few dozen molecules per square micron, which can completely temporarily interrupt the sodium ion flow into the cell membrane, and the sodium ion flow is necessary for nerve muscle excitation, while the steady state potassium ion flux (which is important for the resting membrane) is completely unaffected.

There is evidence that the guanidine group of tetrodotoxin plays a decisive role in blocking sodium channels.

<> puffer fish is poisonous because it secretes toxins as it grows with parasitic vibrio bacteria. As it grows, puffer fish eats a lot of small algae balls and small conch snails that contain vibrio bacteria, so these vibrio bacteria and toxins are also passed on to the puffer fish, which can carry the toxins.

Some puffer fish are highly poisonous in their internal organs, but their muscles are not poisonous.

Generally speaking, tetrodotoxin contains the most ovaries, followed by the liver, blood, eyes, gills, ** all contain a little, and the muscles do not contain TTX. However, after the fish dies, the toxins in the internal organs can penetrate into the muscles, and the muscles also contain small amounts of TTX (pufferfish toxin).

How to raise baby pufferfishWatching the puffer fish is a tropical fish that can live in both fresh water and seawater. It is widely distributed in the freshwater and brackish water of Southeast Asia, and belongs to soda fish. Small pufferfish have a harder water quality like that of marine fish, which requires adding some salt to the water they are raised to make them have a better physique.