The effect of arginine and adenosine on death time due to PSP intoxication

• Main Authors: Abad, Barbra Michelle F., Marquez, John Paulo R.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Seafood poisoning; Paralytic shellfish poisoning; Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP); Chemistry
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/8737
• Institution: De La Salle University

Arginine and adenosine have structural features that are similar to that of Saxitoxin (STX). However, these compounds are non-toxic and are innate to the body. We hypothesize that either one or both of these compounds are capable of acting as mimics and thus prevent binding of STX o its target in the body system. Due to the unavailability of a pure compound, it was necessary to isolate Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin prior to injection to mice. Results show that arginine by itself at doses of 1 ml and adenosine by itself at doses of 1 ml increased the death time from 2.292 to 4.247 and 8.76 Mouse Units (MU) respectively, in one of two duplicated injections. Arginine and adenosine in combination produced a synergistic effect and increased the dath time from 2.292 to 2.611 MU. This study shows the potential of these compounds to relay the onset of paralysis and death due to PSP toxins.