Neurotoxin-induced cardiac disorder and its role in the death of fish exposed to Chattonella marina

This study was carried out in July 1989 and 1990 to confirm whether the neurotoxins of the red tide organism Chattonella marine contribute to the cardiac disorder and death of fish. Exposure of fish to C. marina red tide water significantly decreased the heart rate, presumably resulting in anoxia from reduced blood circulation in the gill. Since atropine restored the depressed heart rate, the cardiac disorder seemed to occur neurogenously in association with the intrinsic cardiophysiology of the fish. Neurotoxin fractions of C. marina and Gymnodinium sp. depolarized the vagal nerve of fish, and hence induced the reduction of heart rate. Depression of the heart rate in fish exposed to C. marina red tide water, thus, seemed to be caused by the neurotoxins of these organisms. Histological examination showed little branchial damage due to neurotoxin fractions.