Characterization and Stability of a Novel Toxin in Scallop Mantle Tissue

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that mice fed a diet containing 1% mantle tissue exhibited decreased food consumption and led to death. Toxic substances present in the mantle tissue have been isolated and identified. In the present study, we explored the characteristics and stability of mantle tissue toxicity. The treatment of mantle tissue with 1 mM hydrochloric acid, 1 mM sodium hydroxide, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and 1 mM hydrogen peroxide followed by heating did not significantly reduce the toxicity of mantle tissue in mice. These results suggest that mantle toxins are stable in tissues, particularly when exposed to acidic conditions and digestive enzymes. We examined whether mantle tissue exhibited acute toxicity. Mice fed a diet containing 20% mantle tissue did not show a distinct increase in toxicity compared with mice fed a diet containing 1% mantle tissue, demonstrating that feeding mantle tissue does not lead to acute toxicity. Finally, mantle tissue toxicity in the small intestine was examined. Chronic feeding of mantle tissue to mice changed the color of the small intestine. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that mantle tissue feeding caused changes in inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers in the small intestine. These results suggest that mantle tissue feeding causes toxicity after initial damage to the small intestinal tissue.