• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.175-178
• /
• 2004

We here report that the muscle of 'gukmeri-bok' puffer fish (Takifugu vermicularis radiatus) is intoxicated after freezing and thawing processes even though it is not toxic when it is fresh. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different freezing and thawing conditions as well as the effect of the presence of skin or viscera on the intoxication of muscle of 'gukmeri-bok' puffer during freezing and thawing process. As a result of this investigation, thawing condition, but not freezing conditions or periods played an important role in muscle intoxication. Tetrodotoxin secretory grands exist in the skin of toxic puffer fish, the skin was more responsible for the muscles intoxication than the viscera during the freezing-thawing process. In other words, no toxicity was measured in the muscle of skinned-frozen specimens even when thawed. According to this result, it is recommended that the skin and viscera must be removed before being frozen for edible purpose. Otherwise, when a whole fish should be frozen, alternative half-thawing and removal of skin from frozen specimens is recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.267-273
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was about physicochemical characteristic of puffer muscle and skin to promote the utilization of puffer as fish protein. In proximate composition, crude protein of dried puffer muscle and skin powders were 89.5% and 82.7%, respectively. Skin powders had higher lipid contents than muscle powders. Ash contents of muscle powders were higher than those of skin powders. In nucleotides and their related compounds, the contents of nucleotides were in order of IMP and ADP. The contents of saturated fatty acid in puffer muscle (83.9%) was higher than skin powders (66.3%). Oleic acid, mono-unsaturated fatty acid, in skin powder (25.9%) was higher than in muscle powders. Seventeen kinds of composition amino acids were detected in muscle powders, while 16 kinds of amino acids were found in skin powders. Total contents of amino acid in muscle powders (83,739 mg/100 g) were higher than those of skin powders (75,361 mg/100 g). In the muscle powders of puffer, glutamic acid was the highest amino acid with the concentration of 13,707 mg/100 g, and was in order of aspartic acid, lysine, leucine, arginine, alanine, valine and glycine. In skin powders, glutamic acid was the highest content with 14,843 mg/100 g followed by proline, alanine and arginine. Twenty five kinds of free amino acids were detected in dried muscle powders, while 22 kinds of free amino acids were found in dried skin powders. Taurine of dried puffer muscle and skin powders was the highest free amino acid with the concentration of 554.4 mg/100 g and 153.6 mg/100 g, respectively. The contents of total free amino acids of dried muscle powders were higher than those of dried skin powders. Especially, cysteine was only detected in dried muscle with the content of $159.3\pm1.8$ mg/100 g.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.269-275
• /
• 2007

The toxicity of two species of puffer fish, Takifugu pardalis and T. niphobles, collected from the coastal regions of Korea was determined using a mouse bioassay. In T. pardalis collected at Tongyeong, the proportion of toxic specimens containing ${\geq}10MU/g$ exceeded 90% for the skin, fins, liver, intestine, ovary, and gallbladder, 11.1% for the testis, and 6.9% for the muscle. In each of the organs, the highest toxin levels were several tens (14-39) of mouse units (MU) per gram in the muscle, testis, and eyeball, but thousands (1,444-5,755) of MU per gram in the skin, liver, intestine, ovary, and gallbladder. The organs of T. pardalis exhibited remarkable variation in toxicity. In T. niphobles, the proportion of toxic specimens exceeded 90% for the ovary and skin, 60-80% for the fins, liver, intestine, and gallbladder, and 4.5% for the muscle; no toxicity was detected in the testis or eyeball using the mouse bioassay. The highest toxin levels were thousands (2,291-7,777) of MU per gram in the liver, intestine, ovary, and gallbladder, hundreds(146-328) of MU per gram in the skin and fins, and 18 MU/g in the muscle. Takifugu niphobles toxicity also exhibited remarkable regional variation. The toxicity in the edible muscle of T. pardalis and T. niphobles was at acceptable levels for human consumption, while the toxicity of the skin of both species of puffer fish was very high, so that care must be taken when used for human consumption.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.276-281
• /
• 2007

The toxicity of two species of puffer fish, Takifugu xanthopterus and T. stictonotus, collected from coastal regions of Korea, was determined using a mouse bioassay. The highest toxin scores in the muscle, skin, fins, and testis in both species were below 50 mouse units (MU) per gram, and for each organ of both species the proportion of toxic specimens containing ${\geq}10MU/g$ was less than about 10%. In T. xanthopterus, the highest toxin levels in the liver, gallbladder, and ovary exceeded 1,000 MU/g (1,275-1,910), while less than 200 MU/g (12-136) was detected in the same organs of T. stictonotus. Therefore, the toxicities of muscle, skin, and testis in both species of puffer fish were within acceptable levels for human consumption.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.46-50
• /
• 2000

Totally, twenty seven specimens of tiger puffer, Fugu rubripes rubripes were collected at Jagalchi fish market in Pusan, Korea during January, April and September in 1995. Anatomical distribution of pufferfish toxin in tiger puffer was examined by mouse bioassay. The frequency rate of toxic specimens containing $\geq$ 10 MU/g was 14.8％ in liver; 16.7％ in gonad; and 14.8％ in skin, and no toxin was detected in muscle. The highest toxin level found was 160 MU/g in liver, 600 MU/g in gonad and 26 MU/g in skin, and each average toxin level (mean$\pm$ standard error) was 7$\pm$6, 50$\pm$35 and 5$\pm$1 MU/g, respectively. Some specimens collected in January and April were toxic, while none of the specimens collected in September showed its toxicity. Although toxicity of tiger puffer showed the seasonal variation, tested tiger puffer was evaluated as a safe seafood fur consumption, in that an acceptable level of toxin was found in the edible muscle and skin.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2009

The toxicity of two species of puffer fish, Takifugu poecilonotus (Heuinjeombok) and T. vermicularis (Gukmaeribok) collected from the coastal regions of Korea was determined using a mouse bioassay. In the T. poecilonotus collected in Jeju and Tongyeong, the proportion of toxic specimens containing ${\ge}10$ mouse units (MU) per gram exceeded 95% for the skin, liver, ovary, and fin, and approximately 30% for the testis and muscles. In each of the organs, the highest toxin levels were 79 MU/g in the muscle, hundreds (158-365) of MU per gram in the fin, intestine, testis, and gallbladder, but thousands (1,147-2,406) of MU per gram in the skin, liver, and ovary. In T. vermicularis collected from Incheon and Gunsan, the proportions of toxic specimens were 100% for the gallbladder, and 56-68% for the skin, fin, liver, and intestine however, no toxic muscle specimens were noted. The highest toxin scores were below 10 mouse units (MU) per gram in the muscle, 20-94 MU/g in the skin and fin, 319 MU/g in the intestine, and thousands (1,548-4,624) of MU per gram in the liver, gonad, and gallbladder. The toxicity in the muscle of T. vermicularis was deemed acceptable for human consumption, whereas the toxicities in the muscle of T. poecilonotus and the skin of both species of puffer fish were significantly high, such that special attention may be required when the fish is intended for human consumption.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.309-314
• /
• 2008

The toxicity of five species of puffer fish, Arothron firmamentum (Byeolbok), Lagocephalus gloveri (Heukmilbok), L. wheeleri (Eunmilbok), L. inermis (Minmilbok) and L. lunaris (Milbok), collected from fish markets in Korea, was determined using a mouse bioassay. In A. firmamentum, the proportion of toxic specimens containing >10 MU/g was 87.5% in the ovaries, and 10.0% in the skin; no toxicity was detected in the muscle, fin, liver, intestine and gallbladder using the mouse bioassay. The highest toxin levels were found to be 87 MU/g in the ovaries, and 13 MU/g in the skin. Toxic specimens containing >10 MU/g were not detected from samples taken from any of the organs in L. wheeleri and L. inermis. In L. gloveri, most specimens were found to be non-toxic, but toxin levels of 11-72 MU/g were detected from within the skin, fins, and intestines in one specimen. In L. lunaris, the proportion of toxic specimens was 50.0% in the ovaries, and 7.1% in the gallbladder; no toxicity was detected in the other organs by the mouse bioassay. The highest toxin levels were 75 MU/g in the ovaries, and 14 MU/g in the gallbladder. Therefore, the toxicities of edible muscle and skin in the five species of puffer fish marketed in Korea were found to be within acceptable levels for human consumption.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2007

Skeletal deformity in hatchery-reared river puffer (Takifugu obscurus) fingerlings occurred. The vertebral abnormality was recognized with naked eyes 80 days after hatching. Affected fish had a good appetite but no clinical signs were found except the vertebral abnormality. As more than 90% of the hatchery-reared fish exhibited vertebral abnormality, the fingerlings could not be used for commercial seeds any more. Morphological changes in the vertebrate and the swim bladder were observed with a soft X-ray. Histopathological changes on the caudal muscle around the deformed vertebrae, gill, and spleen were also examined to clarify the cause of the deformity. Spinal curvature occurred between vertebrae 10 and 12, but any malfunction of the swim bladder was not found. The diameters of the muscle fibers around the deformed vertebrae were much smaller and more irregular than those in normal fish, and the gabs between the fiber bundles were greatly enlarged. No evidence of inflammation response was found in the muscle layer. In the hatchery, feed was putting at the position of water inflow, which might attract the fingerings to move toward the feed in spite of incomplete development of their caudal muscle fibers. From these results, it is suggested that the high speed of water current in rearing aquaria might be associated with the development of vertebral abnormality.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.99-103
• /
• 2005

This study investigated the distribution of scuticociliates in the intestine, spleen, kidney, testis, brain, pericondrial bone and muscle layer of the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, infected with scuticociliates. Scuticociliates were infiltrated in the connective tissues of the outer layer of the intestine, spleen, kidney, testis, brain, pericondrial bone and muscle layer. In brain, membranous tissue and optic lobe cortex separation were accompanied by the infection of scuticociliates. Other internal tissues and organs did not show any lesions expect for heavy deposition of hemosiderin in spleen.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.447-453
• /
• 2006

Toxicity of two species of puffer fish, Takifugu porphyreus and Takifugu rubripes, collected from coastal regions of Korea, was determined using a mouse bioassay, In T. porphyreus, the proportion of toxic specimens containing ${\ge}$ 10 MU/g was 58.3% for the ovary, 32.6% for the skin, 12.0% for the gallbladder, 11.6% for the liver and intestine, and 9.3% for the fin; no toxicity was detected in the muscle and testis using the mouse bioassay. The highest toxin levels were 531 MU/g in the liver, 253 MU/g in the intestine, 136 MU/g in the gallbladder, 118 MU/g in the skin, 116 MU/g in the ovary, and 108 MU/g in the fin. The skin, which is used for human consumption, showed significantly high toxicity with an average of $11{\pm}3\;(mean{\pm}SE) MU/g$. Takifugu porphyreus toxicity also exhibited remarkable regional variation. In T. rubripes, the proportion of toxic specimens was 25.0% for the ovary, 15.8% for the liver, 11.1% for the gallbladder, and 5.3% for the fin and intestine; no toxicity was detected in the muscle, skin, or testis. Among the organs, the highest toxin levels were 228 MU/g in the ovary, followed by 112 MU/g in the liver, 28 MU/g in the gallbladder, 18 MU/g in the intestine, 11 MU/g in the fin, and 8 MU/g in the skin. Thus, we found acceptable toxin levels in the edible muscle and skin of T. rubripes and in the muscle of T. porphyreus. However, the skin of T. porphyreus, which showed significantly high toxicity, requires special attention when used for human consumption.