Question

Tetrodotoxin is a potent toxin found in a variety of organisms including the pufferfish. The toxin binds to the extracellular side of the voltage-gated Na+ channel and prevents channel opening. This leads to paralysis of muscles, including the diaphragm. Death from respiratory failure can occur after ingestion of as little as 1 mg of the toxin. How does this toxin cause paralysis? Choose one: A. The axon membranes continue to depolarize since sodium cannot leave the cell. This causes the cell to become overloaded and dysfunction. A signal is not sent to the muscle, so the muscle cannot contract. B. Sodium cannot enter and cause the membrane to depolarize. The action potential cannot be sent along the axon, so the neuron does not send a signal to the muscles. Thus the muscles are paralyzed. C. Since sodium cannot enter through its normal channel, the sodium ions flood through the potassium channels, causing an imbalance in ions. This imbalance causes too many signals to be sent to the muscle, leading to paralysis.

Answer 1

Answer: Option B.

Sodium cannot enter and cause the membrane to depolarize. The action potential cannot be sent along the axon, so the neuron does not send a signal to the muscles. Thus the muscles are paralyzed

Step-by-step explanation:

Tetrodotoxin is a neurotoxin that is found in the liver and gonads of Marine organism. it block sodium channels and the consumption of organisms that has it can cause neurological and gastrointestinal disorder. It is produced by some infecting or symbiotic bacteria like Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio as well as other species found in animals.

Tetrodotoxin stop signals transmission from nerves to muscles by blocking the sodium channels and muscles in contracting for nervous stimulation. This in turn cause rapid weakening and paralysis of the muscles which include that of the respiratory tracts and can result to arrest or death.