Search

Abstract: The actions of maitotoxin were studied using cultured brainstem cells and adrenal chromaffin cells. Maitotoxin induced a profound increase in the Ca2+ influx into cultured brainstem cells after a brief lag period. The maitotoxin-induced Ca2+ influx was suppressed by various voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blockers such as Co2+, Mn2+, verapamil and diltiazem. Maitotoxin-catecholamine release in brainstem cells initiated to increase after a lag period of about 1min and the increase continued even at 4min after treatment, while in the adrenal chromaffin cells the release started after an about 1-min lag period to attain a maximum within first 2-min and gradually decrease thereafter. These results suggest that maitotoxin acts on Ca2+ channels to increase the Ca2+ influx, accompanied by enhancement of catecholamine release in the brainstem cells with a different temporal profile from that in the adrenal chromaffin cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents analytical toxicology research into five clinical cases of accidental aconite poisoning. Aconite is a toxic plant that contains aconitine alkaloids. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used in the rapid analysis of aconitines in urine and serum. Four male patients and one female patient had ingested roots and leaves of the plant.