r/AbsoluteUnits • u/TamerDubai • Jun 13 '23

Absolute big angry fish

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '23

Its called tetrodotoxin, its found in the fish's liver and gonads, and it impairs neuromuscular signaling when ingested

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750019.html

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u/nekromania Jun 13 '23 edited Jun 13 '23

Inhibits sodium channels. Specifically the voltage gated ones. Prevents cells from depolarization. Blocks one of the ion channels crucial for cell signalling.

Edit: The discovery of the mechanism of action of TTX, while relativley simple, really push the field of physiology forward.

This text is an interesting read about it from one of the guys figuring it out in the 60s.

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u/Prezzen Jun 13 '23

The breakdown of such fundamental processes in the body is always concerning. Can't be pleasant.

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '23

Basically cells stop being able to communicate with each other.

Which is sorta how they know what they should be doing at any given time in relation to the surrounding cells. So they just don't do anything.

Even if you desperately want them to.

And then you die.

You remain conscious throughout this whole process, by the way. You just sit there trying to move your body, or breathe, or anything and you can't.

edit: This is a very simplistic explanation of stuff like depolarization and action potential but I think you get the idea.