Characterization of a Degenerative Cardiomyopathy Associated with Domoic Acid Toxicity in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).

The article discusses the characterization of a degenerative cardiomyopathy related to domoic acid toxicity in California sea lions, Zalophus californianus. Critical aspects of characterizing the cardiomyopathy by lesion distribution and morphology were the development of a heart dissection and tissue-trimming protocol and the delineation of the cardiac conducting system by histomorphology and immunohistochemistry for neuron-specific protein gene product 9.5. Results reveal that the proposed pathogenesis for the degenerative cardiomyopathy is the primary or at least initial direct interaction of domoic acid with receptors that are believed to exist in the heart.