ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY: NEUROPHYSIOLOGY CASE STUDY
Case of Food Poisoning?
Latrell and Brittany went on a trip to Indonesia. One evening they went out to dinner.
The menu contained many Indonesian delicacies including puffer fish. Brittany
convinced Latrell to try the puffer fish. Latrell thoroughly enjoyed his meal.
Approximately 30 minutes after eating, Latrell began complaining of the following
symptoms: lip and tongue paresthesia, which lead to facial and extremity paresthesia
and numbness, headache, sensations of lightness or floating, diaphoresis, dizziness,
ptyalism, nausea, emesis, diarrhea, abdominal (epigastric) pain, difficulty moving (motor
dysfunction), malaise. Brittany also noticed that Latrell had problems speaking. .He then
began to experience abdominal pain and pain in his throat, and eventually he began to
vomit, he was rushed to the hospital. He presented with severe headache, motor
dysfunction, paresthesia, mydriasis, nausea, dyspnea, and paralysis of his upper body
along with arms, neck and face; he was also cyanotic and hyperventilating. Within 30
minutes in the ER, Latrell was experiencing bradycardia and a blood pressure of 80/50,
and he began to have seizures and then eventually went into a coma.
The doctor informed Brittany that Latrell is suffering from fish poisoning caused by
Tetrodotoxin (TTX).
AT the end of this case you should be able to answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define all terminology highlighted
What system(s) in the human body are affected
Draw and label a typical cell in the human nervous system
Do you support the doctor’s diagnosis? Support your answer
Define neurotoxin.
Draw and label an action potential. What are the ions responsible for each stage
of the action potential.
7. Describe how an action potential is generated
8. Where in the neuron is the action potential generated and then propagated
9. Explain the mechanism of action of TTX (how it affects nervous system/ action
potential).
10. What are some other sources of TTX
11. Give at least 5 other examples of neurotoxins found in food, cosmetics, everyday
products.
For question 11, each group should be able to give 5 examples, different form the
other groups. The class will then compile a list of all the examples
BIOL 310 CASE OF FOOD POISONING
SPRING 2018
DR. V. TOPPIN