Brevenal inhibits pacific ciguatoxin-1B-induced neurosecretion from bovine chromaffin cells

PLoS One. 2008;3(10):e3448. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003448. Epub 2008 Oct 20.

Abstract

Ciguatoxins and brevetoxins are neurotoxic cyclic polyether compounds produced by dinoflagellates, which are responsible for ciguatera and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) respectively. Recently, brevenal, a natural compound was found to specifically inhibit brevetoxin action and to have a beneficial effect in NSP. Considering that brevetoxin and ciguatoxin specifically activate voltage-sensitive Na+ channels through the same binding site, brevenal has therefore a good potential for the treatment of ciguatera. Pacific ciguatoxin-1B (P-CTX-1B) activates voltage-sensitive Na+ channels and promotes an increase in neurotransmitter release believed to underpin the symptoms associated with ciguatera. However, the mechanism through which slow Na+ influx promotes neurosecretion is not fully understood. In the present study, we used chromaffin cells as a model to reconstitute the sequence of events culminating in ciguatoxin-evoked neurosecretion. We show that P-CTX-1B induces a tetrodotoxin-sensitive rise in intracellular Na+, closely followed by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ responsible for promoting SNARE-dependent catecholamine secretion. Our results reveal that brevenal and beta-naphtoyl-brevetoxin prevent P-CTX-1B secretagogue activity without affecting nicotine or barium-induced catecholamine secretion. Brevenal is therefore a potent inhibitor of ciguatoxin-induced neurotoxic effect and a potential treatment for ciguatera.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antidotes / pharmacology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Catecholamines / metabolism
  • Cattle
  • Chromaffin Cells / drug effects
  • Chromaffin Cells / metabolism*
  • Ciguatera Poisoning / drug therapy*
  • Ciguatoxins / pharmacology*
  • Neurosecretion / drug effects*
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Sodium Channels
  • Thiopental / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thiopental / pharmacology
  • Thiopental / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antidotes
  • Catecholamines
  • Sodium Channels
  • Ciguatoxins
  • thiobutabarbital
  • Sodium
  • Thiopental
  • Calcium