Toxicity of Pufferfish in Korea -1. Anatomical Distribution of Toxicity of pufferfish Takifugu obscurus(Hwang-bok)-

한국산 복어의 독성 -1. 황복의 부위별 독성-

The pufferfish Takifugu obscurus (hwang-bok) was examined for toxicity. Forty-six specimens, which had Gaught at the Imjin River in 1992 and 1993, Korea, were collected and assayed for anatomical distribution of toxicity by the mouse assay method. Ovary and liver showed very strong toxicity, testis, intestine, gall bladder and spleen did moderate toxicity, muscles and skin did weak toxicity, and blood was non-toxic. The results of this study were different from those of Tani, who had examined the toxicity in 19 species of pufferfish, in terms of toxicity in testis, muscle, and skin. The toxicity of testis and muscle had been known to be non-toxic or weakly toxic previously, however, they were known to have weak or moderate toxicity. Therefore, careful attention should be taken to prevent food poisoning by pufferfish ingestion.

황복의 독성을 조사하기 위하여 1992년과 1993년에 임진강으로 산란하러 소상한 46 개체를 채집하여 조직별로 나누어 독성을 살펴보았다. 조직중에서는 난소와 간장은 맹독이었으며, 정소, 내장, 담낭과 비장은 강독이었고, 근육과 껍질은 약독이었으나 혈액은 무독이었다. 본 결과는 Tani (1945)의 보고와 정소, 근육, 껍질의 독성에서 차이를 보였으며, 특히 이제까지 무독 또는 약독으로 여겨 식용으로 하여 왔던 근육과 정소의 독성이 본 연구에서는 약독 또는 강독으로 독성을 보이고 있어, 중독 예방을 위해서는 주의할 필요가 있다.