Ciguatoxins: Cyclic Polyether Modulators of Voltage-gated Iion Channel Function.

Ciguatoxins are cyclic polyether toxins, derived from marine dinoflagellates, which are responsible for the symptoms of ciguatera poisoning. Ingestion of tropical and subtropical fin fish contaminated by ciguatoxins results in an illness characterised by neurological, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders. The pharmacology of ciguatoxins is characterised by their ability to cause persistent activation of voltage-gated sodium channels, to increase neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release, to impair synaptic vesicle recycling, and to cause cell swelling. It is these effects, in combination with an action to block voltage-gated potassium channels at high doses, which are believed to underlie the complex of symptoms associated with ciguatera. This review examines the sources, structures and pharmacology of ciguatoxins. In particular, attention is placed on their cellular modes of actions to modulate voltage-gated ion channels and other Na+-dependent mechanisms in numerous cell types and to current approaches for detection and treatment of ciguatera.


Ciguatera poisoning in humans
Available evidence indicates that each year, ciguatera poisoning affects more than 25,000 people worldwide and is the most frequent foodborne illness related to fin fish consumption, although rarely fatal [7,[33][34][35]. Ciguatera has its greatest impact on the inhabitants of the atoll island countries of the Pacific basin [36], Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions of the world [7,37] where fish are the primary source of dietary protein [38]. It has also been reported from more northern portions of the United States [39,40]. However, it has been reported in non-endemic regions due to the rapid transportation of ciguateric fish to other countries or areas.
The gastrointestinal symptoms are characterised by moderate to severe vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pain. They tend to occur within 24 h of ingestion of a toxic fish, and typically last 1-3 days [43,47,62]. However, the neurological symptoms are likely to be the most distinctive and enduring features of ciguatera poisoning. The neurological effects usually take longer to develop, but can range from less than 1 to 48 h and may last for weeks to months [43,63,64], although no prospective studies with definite cases of ingestions have been undertaken. In some cases neurological symptoms have appeared first [7]. They involve the peripheral nervous system causing weakness and diaphoresis but predominantly result in sensory neuropathies including paraesthesia of the extremities (circumoral, hands and feet), generalised pruritus, myalgia, arthralgia, heightened nociception, dysgeusiae (taste alteration), and fatigue [47,65], and a distinctive reversal or exaggerated responses to hot and cold sensation that may have an origin in peripheral [66] and/or central [67] nerves. This temperature reversal syndrome, in which victims experience painful discomfort when touching cold objects or ingesting cold fluids, is referred to as the "dry-ice phenomenon" (cold allodynia) and is considered to be almost pathognomic [68]. Temperatures below 24 to 26°C elicit these painful stimuli apparently as a result of alteration in the function of C-polymodal nociceptors that function at temperatures below ~23°C [66]. It is also seen as a clinical hallmark of ciguatera and differentiates this form of intoxication from other forms of food poisoning and mild gastroenteritis [62,69]. However, these paresthesias are ill-defined and follow no apparent dermatome distribution [70,71]. Several in vivo electrophysiological studies on patients suffering from ciguatera poisoning have also been performed. Nerve conduction studies revealed a significant slowing of distal motor and sensory conduction velocity and prolongation of the absolute refractory, relative refractory and supernormal periods have been recorded [72][73][74]. These findings support the assertion that ciguatoxin affects humans by activating voltage-gated sodium (Na v ) channels in sensory and motor nerves [74,75]. The toxins involved in ciguatera have also been shown to exert effects on the central nervous system. Prominent symptoms include; headaches, transient blurred vision or blindness, vertigo, hallucinations, confusion, memory disturbance and occasionally convulsions and coma [47,74].
In severe cases of ciguatera fish poisoning, death may be caused by respiratory failure due to paralysis of the respiratory musculature or complete cardiac failure [62,79]. Dehydration, which can accompany vomiting and diarrhoea in the early stages of intoxication, can also result in death, and is especially common in malnourished children who receive inadequate treatment [55]. Fortunately the mortality rate for persons with ciguatera is less than 1% in the Pacific region and is believed to be less in other endemic areas [69,80].
Another feature characteristic to ciguatera fish poisoning is that an initial intoxication does not always confer immunity. On the contrary, reports of sensitisation to the toxins responsible for ciguatera is common [42,58]. Re-occurrence of the neurological symptoms is occasionally documented and can occur years after the initial poisoning. One theory for this phenomenon is that ingested ciguatoxins may be stored or sequestered in adipose tissue and that symptoms may re-occur during periods of stress, such as exercise and weight loss [53,81]. Ingestion of alcohol and other protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish (non-contaminated) and even certain nuts have also been reported to potentiate a rise in the neurological disturbances associated with ciguatera. Electrophysiological experiments were also performed on ciguatera-poisoned rats to study the phenomenon of sensitisation or re-occurrence of symptoms after alcohol ingestion. Intraperitoneal ethyl alcohol (blood level 0.05%) was found to significantly increase the supernormal response in ciguatoxin-treated rats, supporting isolated reports that alcohol exacerbates the neurological symptoms in ciguatera poisoning [73]. In theory, any activity that may involve an increase in lipid metabolism will result in ciguatoxins entering the blood stream and a re-emergence of the chronic symptoms. Due to the high morbidity rate worldwide, caused by sensitisation to ciguatera toxins, further research into the cause of sensitisation in ciguatera fish poisoning is required.

Pharmacology of Ciguatoxins
Ciguatoxins have been found to be toxic in a range of animal species, especially mammals [43]. In vivo studies in a variety of fish species have also demonstrated their susceptibility to ciguatoxins. Early studies involved adding ciguatoxin to the ambient water of certain fish species, such as the guppy (Lebistes reticulatus), which resulted in death within a short time [82]. Presumably the toxin was absorbed through the gills, a route not normally encountered under natural conditions. However, nonciguatoxic fish species, such as a surgeon fish (Acanthurus xanthopterus), became ciguatoxic after a diet consisting of fish flesh containing strains of C-CTX, without succumbing to the effects of the toxin itself [83]. This supports the hypothesis that sequestration of the toxin, distant from the site of action, may reduce toxicity.
Ciguatoxin has also been found to cause rapid hypothermia in mice [67,84]. Essentially, the mice lost the ability to regulate their own body temperature and became poikilothermic. This reduction in body core temperature was found to be due to neuroexcitatory actions of ciguatera on regions of the brain stem receiving vagal afferents and ascending pathways associated with visceral and thermoregulatory responses [67]. This unique property not only links ciguatoxin and the structurally related, but more water-soluble, maitotoxins but can also be useful in distinguishing them from other marine toxins [55].

Cardiovascular effects of ciguatoxins
Early in vitro studies found that ciguatoxin caused death by eventually blocking phrenic nerve conduction, thus causing respiratory failure [85]. Subsequent studies on anaesthetised cats [86] indicated that cardiovascular changes could also cause death. When ciguatoxin was injected intravenously it resulted in hyperventilation at low doses, and respiratory depression leading to respiratory arrest at high doses; bradycardia and impaired atrioventricular conduction at low doses, arrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia with transient hypertension at sublethal doses, and falling arterial pressure leading to complete heart failure at high doses. The local anaesthetic lidocaine, a Na v channel blocker, was effective at counteracting the effects of ciguatoxin in cats suggesting an involvement of Na v channels. The use of a variety of pharmacological receptor antagonists and bilateral adrenalectomy indicated that ciguatoxin has both central and peripheral effects [87].
Light and electron microscopy has revealed that intraperitoneal or oral administration of P-CTX-1 or P-CTX-4C to male mice causes swelling and focal necrosis on cardiac myocytes, the adrenal medulla and autonomic nerves [88]. Atropine, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, guanethidine (reduces noradrenaline release), 5-hydroxydopamine (false transmitter), or bilateral adrenalectomy had no effect on the injury to the cardiac muscle, and reserpine aggravated the clinical signs and pathological findings. This indicates that ciguatoxins have a direct action on cardiac muscle cells. In a subsequent study [89], repeated i.p. and oral administrations of 0.1 µg/kg of P-CTX-1 or P-CTX-4C to mice over 15 days resulted in marked swelling of cardiac cells and the endothelial cells lining blood capillaries of the heart. These effects reversed within 1 month after ceasing toxin administration.
Numerous in vitro studies, examining the action of ciguatoxins have also been performed on cardiac tissue. Ciguatoxin caused a rapid negative inotropic effect followed by a dominant positive inotropic effect in left atria, and positive inotropic effects in papillary muscle, by stimulating the release of excitatory and/or inhibitory neurotransmitters from innervating nerves [90][91][92]. A second, slower developing phase of P-CTX-1 effect on guinea pig atria and papillary muscle resulted from an additional direct action of P-CTX-1 on the myocardium [91,93]. Both the direct and indirect effects of P-CTX-1 are reversed by tetrodotoxin (TTX), a selective blocker of Na v channels. P-CTX-1 induced a depolarisation of atrial cells that was TTX-sensitive, confirming that P-CTX-1 activates cardiac Na v channels. It has been postulated that this positive inotropic action of P-CTX-1 on atrial cells is induced by an increase in the intracellular concentration of Na + . The increased Na + influx reduces the effectiveness of the Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger to remove intracellular Ca 2+ , leading to enhanced Ca 2+ -induced release of Ca 2+ from calcium stores (a major source of Ca 2+ for cardiac contractility) and stronger contractions [91] (see later for more details). At high doses, P-CTX-1 additionally causes negative inotropic and arrhythmic effects in guinea-pig atria and papillary muscles that are also TTX-sensitive [94].
Investigation of the action of P-CTX-1 on human atrial trabeculae revealed that P-CTX-1 also causes a large, sustained concentration-dependent positive inotropic action, similar to the effects on the atrial myocardium [92]. The use of atenolol, a selective β 1 -adrenoceptor antagonist without local anaesthetic-type activity, abolished the positive inotropic actions, indicating that P-CTX-1 stimulated neural elements in the tissue to release noradrenaline. Therefore the positive inotropic action of P-CTX-1 does not stem from a significant direct effect on myocardial Na v channels, as previously thought, but rather from the indirect action of β 1 -adrenoceptor stimulation [92]. More recently, C-CTX-1 was found to induce a TTX-sensitive reduction in the cardiac action potential duration in frog atria, presumably by stimulating the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from intrinsic autonomic nerves and stimulating M 1 and M 2 mAChR subtypes, accounting for the C-CTX-1-induced bradycardia [95,96].

Gastrointestinal effects of ciguatoxins
Although severe diarrhoea results from the administration of P-CTX-1 and P-CTX-4C, no morphological alterations were seen in the mucosa or muscle layers of the small intestine, except in autonomic nerve fibres and synapses [88]. Importantly, atropine suppressed the symptoms of diarrhoea indicating that ciguatoxins most likely cause a release of ACh. P-CTX-1 also caused a sustained, dose-dependent contraction of the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum [97]. At high doses of P-CTX-1, -2 and -3, these contractions last for over 20 min and were associated with bursts of contractile activity [98]. The responses to P-CTX-1 were completely blocked by atropine, TTX and low extracellular Na + bath solution, enhanced by the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, eserine (also called physostigmine), but was unaffected by hexamethonium, a ganglionic nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) blocker, or mepyramine (histamine H 1 receptor antagonist) [97]. Repeated doses of P-CTX-1 are tachyphylactic and responses to nicotine are irreversibly reduced by prior exposure to P-CTX-1, -2, or -3 [97,98]. In addition, P-CTX-1 did not alter ileal responses to histamine, ACh, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). These results further support the assertion that P-CTX-1 causes the release of ACh from parasympathetic cholinergic nerve terminals, the dominant autonomic innervation in the gut, via the excitation of postganglionic nerves in ilea. The tachyphylactic nature of the action of ciguatoxin suggests that nerve stimulation is followed by nerve blockade, probably as a consequence of further nerve depolarisation.

Effects of ciguatoxin on other smooth muscle
P-CTX-1 also induces a contraction of isolated guinea-pig vas deferens that is inhibited or abolished by treatment with TTX, procaine (a local anaesthetic), incubation in a low Na + bath solution, phentolamine (a non-selective α-adrenoceptor antagonist), or guanethidine, but is not affected by the cholinergic antagonists atropine (muscarinic) or mecamylamine (nicotinic) [99]. From these results, it was suggested that P-CTX-1-induced contractions occur via the release of noradrenaline from adrenergic nerve terminals. P-CTX-1 also markedly potentiates contraction of vas deferens induced by noradrenaline, ACh, or cell depolarisation using high extracellular concentration of K + ([K + ] o ), but inhibits contractile responses arising from electrically stimulated neural elements. In a subsequent study, P-CTX-induced potentiation was shown to be inhibited or abolished by TTX and Na + -deficient bath solution, and suggested that P-CTX-1 may potentiate contractile responses of vas deferens through a direct action on smooth muscle Na v channels [100]. However, subsequent studies have failed to confirm this result, instead indicating that P-CTX-1 caused potentiation only through the effects of neurally-released noradrenaline (Lewis and Hoy, unpublished results).
More recently the actions of P-CTX-1 were examined electrophysiologically on the membrane potential of smooth muscle cells from rat tail arteries [101]. Picomolar concentrations of P-CTX-1 increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) and also caused a marked and maintained membrane depolarisation. Although the threshold and latency of the EJPs were not affected by P-CTX-1, propagated impulses were blocked at ≥100 pM P-CTX-1. Spontaneous activity and the depolarisation produced by P-CTX-I were reduced in the presence of a variety of Na v channel and voltage-gated calcium (Ca v ) channel blockers including TTX, ω-conotoxin GVIA, or Cd 2+ . Subsequent addition of phentolamine repolarised the membrane, while suramin (a non-selective inhibitor of purinergic receptors) selectively abolished EJPs caused by P-CTX-1. It was concluded that P-CTX-1 releases noradrenaline and ATP by initiating the asynchronous discharge of preganglionic perivascular axons [101].

Action of ciguatoxins on ganglionic and neuromuscular transmission
Research on the action of ciguatoxin on rat brain synaptosomes by Bidard et al. [102] found that ciguatoxin stimulated the accumulation and release of the neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid and dopamine. They concluded that these effects were due to the activation of Na v channels, producing a depolarisation of the synaptosomal membrane. This depolarisation would in turn open Ca v channels provoking Ca 2+ entry and neurotransmitter release. Studies of the neuromuscular junction using intracellular recording techniques, showed that nanomolar concentrations of P-and C-CTX-1 triggered spontaneous or repetitive endplate potentials (EPPs), in response to a single nerve stimulus [95,103]. In addition, P-CTX-1 first increases the mean quantal content of EPPs, then reduces, before finally blocking nerve-evoked transmitter release in an irreversible manner. This synaptic activity is transient, and is thought to be the result of ciguatoxin-induced depolarisation of motor nerve terminals, that eventually has an inhibitory effect [103]. The increase in quantal content could be due to an enhanced Ca 2+ influx through Ca v channels due to terminal depolarisation. Nevertheless, it equally could be the result of the reversed-mode operation of the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger, which allows Ca 2+ entry in exchange for intracellular Na + as reported in isolated nerve endings (see later for more details) [103][104][105]. Ciguatoxins also increase spontaneous quantal ACh release from motor nerve terminals, detected as an increase in miniature endplate potential (MEPP) frequency. The increase in MEPP frequency occurred even in a Ca 2+ -free medium supplemented with the Ca 2+ chelator, EGTA, and leads to an exhaustion of neurotransmitter stores. Ultrastructural examination of these motor nerve terminals revealed both a marked depletion of synaptic vesicles and an increase in the nerve terminal perimeter, suggesting that the synaptic vesicle recycling process is impaired during the action of CTX-1 [106]. The activation of Na v channels by ciguatoxins, and the subsequent entry of Na + into nerve terminals, appears to be responsible for the enhancement of asynchronous neurotransmitter release and the depletion of synaptic vesicles, since blockade of Na + influx into the terminals by TTX prevents these effects.
Similar intracellular microelectrode studies of guinea-pig sympathetic ganglia showed that low nanomolar concentrations of P-CTX-1 generated a large increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory synaptic potentials and produced long-lasting repetitive synaptic responses to single stimuli arising from preganglionic axons [107]. However, the passive electrical properties, the amplitude and threshold of action potentials evoked by depolarising current, and the threshold, and latency of the initial responses to nerve stimulation were not affected by P-CTX-1. These effects of P-CTX-1 on sympathetic ganglia were abolished or significantly reduced by the nAChR antagonists (+)-tubocurarine and hexamethonium, as well as TTX, ω-conotoxin GVIA (a N-type Ca v channel blocker), and reduced or elevated extracellular concentration of Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] o ) [107]. It was concluded that P-CTX-1 stimulates preganglionic axons by activating a subpopulation of Na v channels to open. These effects occurred at lower concentrations in unmyelinated than myelinated axons, suggesting that many of the symptoms of ciguatera poisoning may be explained by activity at unmyelinated nerves.
In conclusion, the pharmacological studies described above have provided evidence that ciguatoxins appear to activate Na v channels in a variety of preparations to cause depolarisation, spontaneous action potentials and an elevation of the intracellular concentration of Na + ([Na + ] i ). As a consequence of these actions nerve impulses invade nerve terminals either spontaneously or in response to a single stimulus. Ca v channels open during each presynaptic action potential, and the ensuing rise of intracellular Ca 2+ concentration triggers the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles resulting in synchronous spontaneous or repetitive multi-quantal neurotransmitter release.

Ciguatoxin enhances neuronal excitability
Na v channels are critical elements for the generation and propagation of electrical signals in most excitable cells. They are large membrane-spanning proteins that mediate the rapid and transient increase in membrane Na + conductance responsible for the depolarising phase of action potentials. Their structure comprises principally of a pore-forming ~2000-residue glycoprotein α-subunit in eukaryotic Na v channels of 240-280 kDa ( Fig. 2A). Each α-subunit is composed of four homologous domains (I-IV). Each domain contains six putative transmembrane α-helical segments (S1-S6) where the S4 segment from each domain form the voltage sensor. The inactivation gate is represented by an inactivation particle (hydrophobic residues IFM). The pore-lining segments S5 and S6, and intervening SS1/SS2 (P loop) form the walls of the ion-conducting pathway.
The most dramatic discovery linking the alteration of Na v channel function with the action of ciguatoxin was that of Benoit et al. [108] who studied the effects of partially purified P-CTX-1 on current-and voltage-clamped frog myelinated nerve fibres. They found P-CTX-1, at low nanomolar concentrations, induced spontaneous action potentials that were suppressed by the addition of TTX, indicating this effect was mediated through Na v channels. This increase in membrane excitability was also observed in neuroblastoma cells where, under the appropriate conditions, P-CTX-1 induced spontaneous oscillations in the membrane potential as well as repetitive action potentials [102].
Similarly, using rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons under current-clamp conditions, bath application of 2-20 nM P-CTX-1 caused a rapid, concentration-dependent depolarisation of the resting membrane potential in neurons expressing TTX-sensitive Na v channels [109] (Fig. 3A). This action was completely suppressed by the addition of 200 nM TTX to the external solution. P-CTX-1 also prolonged action potential and afterhyperpolarisation duration (Fig. 3A). In a sub-population of neurons, P-CTX-1 also produced tonic action potential firing (Fig. 3C-F). Conversely, in neurons expressing TTX-resistant Na v currents, P-CTX-1 failed to alter any parameter of neuronal excitability.
Research on other ciguatoxins is less extensive, mainly due to difficulties in obtaining purified toxin. Dinoflagellate-derived ciguatoxins (formerly gambiertoxins) are not especially toxic to mammals because they are less oxidised than ciguatoxins and are only present in small quantities in fish muscle. Nevertheless, P-CTX-4B, from the dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus has effects on myelinated nerve fibres that are similar to those of P-CTX-1, but is ~ 50-fold less effective than P-CTX-1 [110]. toxins, tetrodotoxin (TTX) and saxitoxin (STX). Some of µ-conotoxin binding sites practically overlap with those of TTX and are omitted for clarity. In the case of receptor sites 3 and 4, only areas where there is more than a five-fold increase in binding affinity are highlighted. Ciguatoxins and brevetoxins bind with site 5 indicated in blue. Figure is adapted from Cestèle [112] and Nicholson [113].

Mode(s) of activation of Na v channels by ciguatoxin
The ability of ciguatoxins to cause repetitive action potential firing in many cell types is commonly thought to be due to their ability to shift the voltage dependence of Na v channel activation to potentials closer to the resting membrane potential [93,[101][102][103]107,114,115]. Using whole-cell patch clamp recording techniques in acutely dissociated rat DRG neurons, the effects of P-CTX-1 were examined on TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant Na v channels [114] (Fig. 4A). P-CTX-1 caused a concentration-dependent reduction in peak current amplitude for both channel types. At TTX-sensitive Na v channels, P-CTX-1 caused a 13 mV hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of activation, with no alteration in the reversal potential, and a 22 mV hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state inactivation (h ∞ ) (Fig. 4C). P-CTX-1 also precipitated a large increase in the leakage current, an action that was reversed upon the addition of TTX (Fig. 5A). This indicates that the rise in leakage current is mediated via TTX-sensitive Na v channels [114]. This P-CTX-1-induced leakage current is most likely due to the spontaneous opening of a sub-population of Na v channels at resting and hyperpolarised membrane potentials that remain in a permanently open, non-inactivating state [116] and no doubt underlies the marked membrane depolarisation [109]. The increased leakage current also underlies the reduction in the peak Na + current amplitude, by reducing the number of available unmodified Na v channels. In contrast, the only significant action of P-CTX-1 on TTX-resistant Na v channels in DRG neurons, apart from a reduction in peak current amplitude, was an increase in the rate of recovery from Na v channel inactivation [114]. A differential effect of ciguatoxin on TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant Na v channels may contribute to the diversity of sensory neurological disturbances associated with ciguatera.
This action, in combination with ongoing membrane depolarisation and in some neurons a marked oscillation in the membrane potential [115,116], triggers spontaneous action potential firing. Given that P-CTX-1 failed to alter neuronal excitability in current-clamp recordings from small diameter DRG neurons expressing TTX-resistant Na v channels, it would appear that the Na v 1.8 (PN3/SNS) and Na v 1.9 (NaN/SNS2) channel subtypes [117,118] are not involved to any appreciable extent. Nevertheless, one or several of the TTX-sensitive Na v subtypes, such as Na v 1.1 (rat I), Na v 1.6 (NaCh6/PN4) and Na v 1.7 (PN1), that have been shown to be highly expressed in larger diameter DRG neurons [119][120][121] or even Na v 1.2 (rat II), which is expressed at low levels [122], may be involved. Indeed, C-CTX-3C has been shown to alter the gating and kinetics of rNa v 1.2, as well as rNa v 1.4 (adult skeletal muscle, µ1), and rNa v 1.5 (heart, H1) channels expressed in HEK293 cells [123]. This study confirmed that ciguatoxins shift the voltage dependence of activation, reduce the peak Na + current and promote slow Na v channel inactivation. Cylinders represent the α-helical segments where the charged S4 segments (red) represent the voltage sensors. The inactivation gate (magenta) is represented by the inactivation particle (residues IFM). The walls of the ion-conducting pathway are shown in blue. The β1 and β2 subunits are represented as immunoglobulin-like folds similar to myelin protein P 0 [111]. Ψ, sites of probable N-linked glycosylation. (B) Location of known neurotoxin receptor sites on Na v channels. Green circles represent the outer (EEDD) and inner (DEKA) rings of amino acid residues that form the ion selectivity filter and the proposed neurotoxin receptor site 1 for the water-soluble guanidinium. Despite these actions of ciguatoxins on mammalian Na v channels fitting with the symptomology of ciguatera, the actions of ciguatoxins on Na v channel gating and kinetics in amphibian neurons differs slightly. For example, following exposure to P-CTX-1 a fraction of the Na + current recorded from single myelinated frog axons failed to inactivate during a long depolarisation step, resulting in a maintained 'late' inward current [108,124,125]. Unlike experiments using rat DRG neurons, the amplitude of the peak Na + current was not modified by P-CTX-1. In contrast, the voltage-dependence of activation, and the reversal potential were more negative for the late Na + current than for the peak Na + current. Therefore, in the presence of P-CTX-1, the late Na + current is activated at the resting membrane potential. These results indicate that P-CTX modifies a fraction of Na + channels that remain permanently open, even at the resting membrane potential. Differences in the action of ciguatoxins on mammalian sensory neurons vs. amphibian motor axons no doubt reflects phyletic differences in Na v channels and / or differences in the action of ciguatoxin on Na v channel subtypes. Test pulse protocols consisted of 50-ms depolarising test pulses from a holding potential of -80 mV to +70 mV in 5-mV increments before, and 10 min after perfusion with 5 nM P-CTX-1. The peak I Na at each voltage step was measured and plotted as a function of membrane potential in the absence ( ) and presence of 5 nM P-CTX-1 ( ). Modified from Strachan et al. [114].
To gain a clearer understanding of how ciguatoxin modulates Na v channels to increase neuronal excitability, the action of P-CTX-1 was examined on single Na v channels in isolated parasympathetic neurones from rat intracardiac ganglia [116]. In cell-attached membrane patches, P-CTX-1 markedly increased the open probability of single TTX-sensitive Na v channels, but did not alter the unitary conductance or reversal potential from those of the unmodified channel. In about half the patches under steady-state conditions, P-CTX-1 caused spontaneous opening of single Na v channels that did not close, even at hyperpolarized membrane potentials [116]. Thus P-CTX-1 increases neuronal excitability by shifting the voltage dependence of activation of TTX-sensitive Na v channels to more negative potentials, and by creating a persistent, non-inactivating Na + current. From the single channel and whole-cell studies described above, it appears that P-CTX-1 acts on TTX-sensitive Na v channels to create two types of modified Na v channels, one where the voltage sensitivity of activation is shifted modestly in the hyperpolarising direction and inactivation is impaired, and one where the channel fails to stay closed, even at hyperpolarised membrane potentials. This latter effect most likely underlies the observed leakage current in DRG neurons. Experiments examining the effects of ciguatoxin on expressed Na v channel clones are required to determine if ciguatoxin takes the Na v channel into two different gating modes, or if these phenomena arise through differential effects on two different populations of Na v channels. Different populations of Na v channels could arise because of differences in the auxiliary β subunits, different extents of post-translational modification, and/or different Na v channel α-subunits and their splice variants. The specific Na v subtype(s) underlying the TTX-sensitive membrane potential oscillations observed in several cell-types also remains to be established. In summary, ciguatoxin-induced membrane depolarisation, combined with an ability to prolong nerve impulse duration, and a hyperpolarising shift in the activation of Na v channels, all act to promote tonic firing of action potentials in myelinated axons and motor nerve terminals and, under appropriate conditions, induces spontaneous oscillations in the resting membrane potential and repetitive action potentials. Also ciguatoxins significantly alter neuronal excitability in mammalian sensory neurons that are consistent with effects that underlie the paraesthesiae and dysesthesiae observed clinically in ciguatera poisoning. In support, DRG neurons, or their axons, have been previously identified to be sites of ectopic impulse generation leading to these types of spontaneous or altered sensations [127,128].

Ciguatoxin competes for neurotoxin receptor site 5 on Na v channels
The Na v channel is a target for a number of drugs, insecticides and neurotoxins. These bind to at least seven identified neurotoxin binding sites and either block conductance or modulate Na v channel gating and/or kinetics ( Fig. 2B; for recent reviews see [112,[129][130][131]). Substances are associated with a receptor site if they compete in radioligand competition binding assays, often with specific allosteric interactions with other sites, or elicit similar electrophysiological effects.
To determine the binding site of ligands on Na v channels researchers have used a variety of ion flux and radiolabelled neurotoxin binding studies. Initial studies by Bidard et al. [102] showed that the binding site of ciguatoxin on the Na v channel was unique to previously identified neurotoxins. By employing 22 Na + flux measurements involving a variety of other Na v channel toxin probes including veratridine and batrachotoxin (site 2), sea anemone toxins (site 3), and β-scorpion toxins (site 4), they showed that ciguatoxin stimulates 22 Na + entry in neuroblastoma cells and rat skeletal myoblasts when it is used in synergy with other site 2, 3, and 4 toxins. This acceleration of Na + flux was due to activation of Na v channels, since the effect of ciguatoxin was antagonised by TTX [102]. Timecourse of changes in I leak induced by 5 nM P-CTX-1 in a cell expressing TTX-sensitive I Na currents and reversal by TTX (200 nM). The effects of TTX, but not those of P-CTX-1, were reversed upon washing with toxin-free solution. (B) Action of D-mannitol on the P-CTX-1-induced rise in I leak through TTX-sensitive Na v channels. Absolute changes in I leak (-nA) were recorded in either (squares) hyperosmolar (n = 13) or (triangles) iso-osmolar (n = 9) 50 mM D-mannitol solutions. Data were recorded during a 10 min perfusion in D-mannitol alone (open circles). Cells were then perfused with 5 nM P-CTX-1 in the presence of either hyper-or iso-osmolar 50 mM D-mannitol. The mean rise in I leak after perfusion with 5 nM P-CTX-1 alone (closed circles) is shown for comparison. Significant I leak was not associated with the CTX-modified TTX-resistant Na v channels. Modified from Birinyi-Strachan et al. [126] and Strachan et al. [114].
Competition radioligand binding experiments have shown that ciguatoxin competes with another lipid-soluble cyclic polyether toxin, brevetoxin (PbTx) for neurotoxin receptor site 5 on Na v channels. Ciguatoxins are not available as radiolabelled analogues for direct investigation of their specific binding; therefore, [ 3 H]PbTx-3 has been used in homologous and heterologous displacement experiments to define site 5 toxins. Competition studies between purified ciguatoxin [132], pure P-CTX-1, -2, or -3 [5,133,134], C-CTX-1 [135], C-CTX-3C [136], and [ 3 H]PbTx-3, indicate that the ciguatoxins are competitive inhibitors of brevetoxin binding, and thus have overlapping binding at site 5 on the intramembrane portion of the Na v channel (see Fig. 2). Competition binding experiments also found ciguatoxin enhances the binding of site 2 and 3 toxins via non-competitive positive allosteric mechanisms, while ciguatoxin inhibits binding of toxins to site 4 in a negative allosteric fashion [102,[137][138][139]. The selectivity of ciguatoxins for various isoforms of Na v channels has only been investigated on rNa v 1.4 and hNa v 1.5 channels expressed in HEK293 cells. Competition binding studies using [ 3 H]PbTx-3 revealed that C-CTX-3C has similar affinity for brain, heart and skeletal muscle Na v channel isoforms [136].
Using a photolabeled derivative of PbTx-3 and site-directed antibody mapping, the partial localisation of neurotoxin receptor site 5 has been determined. Transmembrane segments IS6 and IVS5 have both been identified to participate in the formation of receptor site 5 (Fig. 2B). This indicates that the transmembrane segments IS6 and IVS5 are in close proximity in the native Na v channel and interact to form this receptor site [140,141]. Hence, it is feasible that ciguatoxins, because of their high affinity, could become a new useful pharmacological tool, not unlike TTX or batrachotoxin, in the study of the structure and function of Na v channels.

Actions of ciguatoxin on voltage-gated potassium channels
Until recently it has been well accepted that the Na v channel was the primary target of ciguatoxins. Nevertheless, P-CTX-1 also causes a significant increase in mammalian action potential and afterhyperpolarisation duration in the absence of significant alterations in Na v channel inactivation kinetics [109]. In support, a decrease in the amplitude and increase in the duration of spontaneous action potentials has been previously reported with P-CTX-4B, the less polar precursor of P-CTX-1, and C-CTX-1 on single frog myelinated axons [110]. In this later study, the voltage-gated potassium (K v ) channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) failed to further prolong action potential duration following exposure to 24 nM P-CTX-4B. In support, nanomolar concentrations of purified P-CTX-1 have been found to block macroscopic K v channels in rat myotubes [142].
Previous studies have shown that block of delayed-rectifier K v channels (K DR ) in DRG neurons using TEA, depolarize the cell membrane, prolong action potential duration, reduce the amplitude of afterhyperpolarisations and lower the threshold for action potential firing [143]. These actions suggest that ciguatoxins may also modulate K + channels. P-CTX-1 has been found to block I K(DR) in rat DRG neurons and produce similar changes in neuronal excitability to those described above [109]. Thus the block of K DR channels would most likely contribute to membrane depolarisation previously identified to be due to the permanent activation of a sub-population of Na v channels [114,116]. In addition, it would also contribute to a lowering of action potential threshold, due to the absence of hyperpolarising potassium conductances, in concert with the hyperpolarising shift in the voltage dependence of TTX-sensitive Na v channel activation [114]. and (B) delayed-rectifier potassium currents (I K(DR) ) in rat DRG neurons (Aa) I K(A) were evoked by 400-ms depolarising test pulses (V test ) to +20 mV applied from a holding potential of -80 mV (P (-) ) or applied subsequent to a 1.5-s hyperpolarising prepulse (V prepulses ) to -40 mV (P (+) ). I K(A) was obtained by subtracting the current produced by P (+) from the current produced by P (-) . (Ab) Representative superimposed current traces before, and following, a 20-min perfusion with 20 nM P-CTX-1. Transient 'A-type' K v channels also play a vital role in neuronal excitability to dampen interspike depolarisations and modulate action potential firing rates [144]. Agents that block I K(A) , such as 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) [143], have also been shown to induce repetitive firing in rat dorsal root fibres [145] and DRG neurons [146]. Importantly, at concentrations that profoundly affect spike electrogenesis and Na v channel gating, P-CTX-1 produced a significant inhibition of I K(A) . This action would promote a faster firing frequency by speeding the rate of interspike membrane potential depolarisation. In support, the structurally related cyclic polyether gambierol from G. toxicus (Fig. 1C) has recently been shown to block K v channels in mouse taste cells [147].
Given that K DR and K A channels play multiple roles in the excitability of DRG neurons block of these channels by P-CTX-1 influences the shape of the action potential, its firing threshold and the resting membrane potential. The block of K DR and K A channels act in concert with permanent activation of a sub-population of Na v channels to depolarise the resting membrane potential and a hyperpolarising shift in the threshold of TTX-sensitive Na v channel activation [114], as the underlying determinants for the spontaneous action potential firing induced by P-CTX-1 in sensory neurons. These actions on neuronal excitability provide us with further understanding of the origin of the predominant paraesthesiae, dysesthesiae and other neurological symptoms associated with ciguatera poisoning.

Ciguatoxin induced swelling of cells
The ciguatoxin-induced activation of Na v channels at the resting membrane potential is responsible for numerous Na + -dependent effects in particular oedema [91,102,108,125,[148][149][150][151]. Intraperitoneal or oral administration of 0.1 µg/kg of P-CTX-1 or P-CTX-4C to male mice over 15 days caused marked swelling of cardiac and endothelial cells lining the blood capillaries of the heart [89]. This swelling only reversed some weeks after ceasing toxin administration. As a consequence of persistent activation of Na v channels at resting membrane potentials resulting in spontaneous or evoked repetitive firing of action potentials, ciguatoxins have been demonstrated to induce swelling of nerves in amphibian [125,150,[152][153][154] and mammal sensory neurons [126]. Swelling has been observed during the action of P-CTX-1, P-CTX-4B or P-CTX-3C on myelinated axons, motor nerve terminals and on perisynaptic Schwann cells in situ, as determined by confocal microscopy [125,150,152,154,155]. The nodal swelling results from the influx of water to maintain the osmotic equilibrium. The sodium loading hypothesis, described above, is supported by the finding that TTX prevents this swelling [125,150,152,153]. These effects were also reversed by increasing the osmolality of the external solution either with 100 mM D-mannitol, 50 mM tetramethylammonium chloride, or with 100 mM sucrose. Although the hyperosmolar external solutions almost completely reversed the nodal swelling of myelinated axons induced by ciguatoxin, the solutions only partially decreased the nerve terminal swelling.
In the continuous presence of TTX, ciguatoxins did not cause significant changes in the nodal volume of myelinated axons, or in the motor nerve terminal area per unit length. Thus, it is likely that ciguatoxins promote the entry of Na + through ciguatoxin-modified Na v channels that are permanently activated at the resting membrane potential, and through unmodified Na v channels that open during ciguatoxin-induced spontaneous action potential discharges [125]. This swelling has been associated with sensory disturbances, such as alterations to nerve conduction velocity in humans, by increasing the electrical capacitance of the nodal membrane [73,74,151]. This is likely to contribute to the sensory disturbances characteristic of ciguatera poisoning.

Action of ciguatoxin on intracellular Ca 2+ stores and the Na + -Ca 2+ exchange mechanism
Intracellular Ca 2+ plays an important role in the functioning of excitable cells, particularly as a second-messenger [156]. Studies have shown that low nanomolar concentrations of P-CTX-1 significantly increases the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) in cultured mouse NG108-15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells [106,149,157]. Using the fluorescent Ca 2+ probe flura-2 to measure intracellular Ca 2+ stores, it was shown that cells bathed with either standard medium containing Ca 2+ , or Ca 2+ -free medium supplemented with the Ca 2+ chelator EGTA, experienced a P-CTX-1-induced increase in intracellular Ca 2+ . However, adding TTX to the bath completely inhibited this increase, suggesting that the effect of P-CTX-1 on Ca 2+ mobilisation depends on Na + influx through Na v channels. This result provides further support for the positive inotropic actions of P-CTX-1 in cardiac myocytes, as discussed previously [91].
In addition, P-CTX-1-induced Ca 2+ mobilisation was found to prevent the subsequent action of bradykinin, indicating that the intracellular Ca 2+ store affected by P-CTX-1 is the same as that activated by bradykinin [104,158]. In NG108-15 cells, bradykinin has been shown to increase the degradation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-triphosphate resulting in the production of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP 3 ) and diacylglycerol, which activates protein kinase C [158,159]. The mechanism of Ca 2+ mobilization by bradykinin is considered to be predominantly through InsP 3 -induced Ca 2+ release from intracellular Ca 2+ stores [156]. From these results it was concluded that both P-CTX-1 and bradykinin might elevate intracellular Ca 2+ through the same InsP 3 -sensitive Ca 2+ stores in nerve cells [104]. Past experimentation on synaptosomes [160][161][162] and cardiac myocytes [163] has also revealed that any enhanced influx of Na + stimulates the production of InsP 3 , presumably through the activation of phospholipase C. A Na + -dependent mobilization of Ca 2+ from InsP 3 -sensitive stores could explain the increase in asynchronous quantal neurotransmitter release from motor nerve terminals that have been exposed to P-CTX-1 in a Ca 2+ -free bath solution [103,106]. More recently P-CTX-1 has been shown to cause a transient increase in intracellular InsP 3 mass levels in rat myotubes, an action that was blocked by TTX [142]. This indicates that membrane depolarisation is involved in the generation of InsP 3 .
The Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger (antiporter) is also implicated in the actions of ciguatoxins on neurotransmitter release. Nanomolar concentrations of P-CTX-1 have been shown to increases Na + influx into cholinergic synaptosomes isolated from the electric organ of the fish Torpedo marmorata, thus enhancing ACh release triggered by Ca 2+ [104]. This action does not result from P-CTX-1induced depolarisation of the synaptosomal membrane to activate Ca v channels, because simultaneous blockade of Ca v channel subtypes by a cocktail of blockers did not prevent ACh release. In addition, replacement of extracellular Na + by Li + reduced transmitter release, consistent with the fact that Li + cannot substitute for Na + in the Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger [164]. Lastly, benperidol and cotidal, known inhibitors of the Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger, completely blocked Ca 2+ -dependent ACh release induced by P-CTX-1 [105]. Therefore, it would appear that P-CTX-1 activates Na v channels with a consequent increase in [Na + ] i in synaptosomes hence reducing the ability of the Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger to extrude Ca 2+ ions. As a consequence this leads to an elevation of cytoplasmic Ca 2+ and promotes Ca 2+ -dependent neurotransmitter release. The Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger can operate also in a reverse mode and admit Ca 2+ into the terminal, if the membrane potential is above the equilibrium potential of the exchanger, such as occurs during ciguatoxin-induced depolarisation and spontaneous repetitive firing.

Detection of ciguatoxins
Since ciguateric toxins are odourless and tasteless, bioassays in animals have been traditionally used in ciguatera endemic regions to monitor suspected or toxic fish samples. These tests are based on feeding cats, mongoose, chicken, crayfish, mosquito and dipteran larvae with flesh or viscera of suspect fish. Observations of symptoms, behaviour, growth, body temperature, and survival time of the animals over time are used to characterise and quantify toxin levels [165][166][167][168][169][170]. Of the 37 animal species tested by Banner et al. [165], only five were found to be sensitive to the oral administration of ciguateric fish. Despite the development of these animal assays, the mouse bioassay remains the most widely used assay to establish levels of ciguatoxin in extracts of fish (reviewed in [168]). The method quantifies lethal and sub-lethal doses of ciguatoxin in crude extracts administered intraperitoneally to mice [166,171]. The establishment of dose-time-to-death relationship for the major toxins allows the numbers of mice required for quantitation to be reduced to as few as two per sample, and avoids testing LD 50 doses which are lethal at ~24 h [168]. Nevertheless, these assays have their disadvantages: they (i) have insufficient sensitivity to detect ciguatoxin in crude extracts from low-toxicity fish, (ii) may give false positive results if high doses of lipid are administered [19], (iii) relatively large amounts of material are required for analysis, (iv) lack specificity to distinguish different marine toxins, (v) require prolonged times for analysis and, (vi) are ethically questionable [172].
Recent developments have focused on a variety of cell-based techniques to detect and quantify ciguatoxins in fish. Manger et al. [173,174] have shown that N2A neuroblastoma cells in culture can be developed as a simple and sensitive method to detect Na v channel-specific marine toxins using mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity as a marker of cytotoxicity. Within 6 h, purified ciguatoxin can be detected at subpicogram levels and the results correlate with those obtained by mouse bioassay. The use of N2A neuroblastoma cells in the detection of ciguatoxins has also recently been refined by the use of a rapid fluorimetric microplate assay using the potential dependent fluorescent dye, bis-oxonol [175]. A sensitive cell-based assay for brevetoxins, saxitoxins and ciguatoxins has also been reported that employs ac-fos-luciferase reporter gene stably expressed in cells [176]. [ 3 H]PbTx-3 binding to brain membrane can be used to detect ciguatoxins in crude extracts [132,134,135] and can be developed into high-throughput assays. Other sensitive approaches not based on cell assays include chemical approaches such as LC-MS/MS [177] and immunological methods based on RIA, ELISA and solid-phase immunobead assays [178][179][180][181][182][183][184][185][186][187][188].
Ciguatera screening in biological fluids of suspected patients is still limited due to a lack of validated methods. At present there are early reports of neuroblastoma cell-based cytotoxicity assays to quantify ciguatoxin activity in human blood [189,190]. These Na v channel assays, together with antibody-based assays [191,192] have potential to replace animal testing for ciguatoxins. Therefore these approaches warrant further validation to determine the potential of such assays to be developed into rapid screens for public health protection.

Treatment of ciguatera
Despite recent advancements in understanding the pharmacological properties of ciguatera toxins, no effective treatment for ciguatera poisoning has been devised. Therapy remains primarily symptomatic and supportive and includes gastric lavage for removal of unabsorbed toxins, opiates for pain, oxygen and ventilation assistance, cold showers and antihistamines for pruritus and antidiarrhoeal and antiemetic agents [42,47,193]. Rare cardiovascular complications, such as symptomatic bradycardia and severe hypotension require specific treatments such as atropine and pressors [63].
A range of specific treatments have been reported to give benefit to sufferers of ciguatera in isolated instances. These include the antidepressants amitriptyline [194][195][196] and fluoxetine [197], that apart from their actions as reuptake inhibitors, are also known to block Na v channel activity [198]. Also, the L-type Ca v channel inhibitor nifedipine [195], the anticonvulsant gabapentin [199], and the Na v channel blocker tocainide [195,200,201], have all been shown to have benefit in clinical cases. The use of tocainide, an orally active lidocaine derivative, is supported by animal studies [202], but not by in vitro studies [203]. Other treatments have included injections of vitamin B complex and vitamin C, which reportedly shortened the duration of symptoms [204]. A wide variety of traditional remedies have been developed in island regions [205] and include the use of green fruit of papaya as an emetic and also the herb Duboisea myoporides, which contains atropine [80]. Atropine will alleviate hypotension and bradycardia but has no effect on the neurological or gastrointestinal disturbances.
More than 90 traditional herbal medicines have reportedly been used to treat ciguatera in the Pacific. Unfortunately the vast majority are poorly characterised. However, aqueous extracts of Argusia argentea and Schinus terebenthifolius leaves, have been shown to reduce the weight loss of mice injected with sublethal doses of ciguatoxic fish extracts [206]. Interestingly, extracts of Argusia argentea leaves and Davallia solida rhizomes also reverse the spontaneous and repetitive action potentials and swelling of nodes of Ranvier in frog single myelinated axons [207]. A recent study has also shown that several other plant extracts inhibit the in vitro cytotoxicity induced by ciguatoxin. These traditional remedies for ciguatera may provide benefit but, as with most other potential therapies, there is a paucity of scientific studies on the efficacy and safety in humans. Nonetheless, they may provide lead compounds to treat ciguatera poisoning provided these agents reverse the effects of polyether compounds on their cellular targets [208].
Treatment of ciguatera with intravenous infusions of hyperosmotic D-mannitol, an acyclic sugar alcohol (polyol), has gained acceptance as currently the most effective method of abating the neurological symptoms [209,210]. Over 60% of patients have their symptoms reversed by mannitol infusions of 1 g/kg over 30-45 min [209,210]. This has been supported by case series, non-randomised studies and a randomised, but not double-blind, study [57,151,[209][210][211][212][213][214][215]. The most dramatic success story in the treatment of ciguatera to date has been reported by Palafox et al. [209] in the Marshall Islands, who treated 24 patients with acute ciguatera with intravenous infusions of mannitol. Two patients in a coma and one in shock responded in minutes with full and rapid recovery, a process that usually takes 1-2 weeks. Neurological and muscular manifestations improved dramatically, however gastrointestinal symptoms resolved more slowly. Other clinical studies such as that by Pearn et al. [210], found that patients with acute disease (showing symptoms for no longer than 24 h), when infused with a higher dose of mannitol (1.0 g/kg), were more likely to have dramatic recoveries.
Despite its apparent effectiveness, the mechanism for the neuroprotectant effect of D-mannitol in the treatment of ciguatera is still not fully understood. Most studies indicate that the reduction of cell swelling is the main action of D-mannitol, a well-known osmotic diuretic [125]. This action is supported by the finding that D-mannitol has little effect in reducing the symptoms of ciguatera in mice, due to the marked absence of ciguatoxin-induced axonal oedema in the mouse model [171,216]. In vitro studies have, however, suggested that D-mannitol may exert a more specific role, by interacting with the ciguatoxin molecule itself [125]. However, it has also been suggested that D-mannitol may exert its neuroprotectant effect as a scavenger of hydroxyl free radicals ( • OH) generated by the ciguatoxin molecule [125,210]. D-Mannitol is known to act as a free radical scavenger [217,218]. Since the ciguatoxin molecule possesses a number of hydroxyl groups this has some theoretical attraction, particularly since vitamin C, a known free radical scavenger, has previously been shown to provide some clinical benefit [204]. Using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, it was found that P-CTX-1 failed to generate hydroxyl free radicals at concentrations of toxin that caused profound effects on neuronal excitability. In addition, the free radical scavenging agents Trolox ® and L-ascorbic acid failed to prevent ciguatoxin-induced changes in neuronal excitability [126]. Mannitol may also exert its effects as an osmotic diuretic agent, by reducing the oedema and related pressure-induced neuropathies. However a study using hyper-and iso-osmolar D-sorbitol and hyperosmolar sucrose showed that these agents, unlike iso-osmolar D-mannitol, failed to prevent the effects of P-CTX-1 on spike electrogenesis and Na v channel gating, and the leakage current in rat sensory neurons (Fig. 5B) [126]. These selective actions of both iso-and hyperosmolar D-mannitol indicate that it does not act purely as an osmotic agent to reduce swelling of nerves, but involves a more complex action dependent on the Na v channel subtype, possibly to alter or reduce toxin association.
Despite the availability of this treatment, the management of long-term chronic symptoms continues to be problematic. The pathophysiological basis of symptoms that persist for weeks or years remains to be elucidated, but these long-term effects may be the result of permanent neurological damage associated with oedema, or slow detoxification. The reason mannitol is not consistently effective in treating ciguatera [213] is also unclear, but may relate to timing of administration, severity of poisoning, and individual variations in response to ciguatoxin and/or mannitol. Some potential hazards for its clinical use also exist. The major hazards are the loss of further fluids from patients suffering from acute diarrhoea and vomiting and that patients experiencing bradycardia and hypotension are at a higher risk of cardiac failure if infused with high doses of mannitol [210]. Finally, the only double-blinded randomized trial of mannitol concluded that mannitol was not superior to normal saline in relieving symptoms and signs of ciguatera at 24 h [63], and some clinicians are now beginning to question whether it should be recommended for the treatment of ciguatera [63,219]. In motor and sensory neurons ciguatoxins cause persistent activation of Na v channels (1) and block K v channels (2). This causes both membrane depolarisation (3) and leads to spontaneous and repetitive action potential firing (4). The resultant Na + loading causes swelling of axons, nerve terminals and perisynaptic Schwann cells (5). (B) At synapses, ciguatoxins elevate the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration via InsP 3 -mediated Ca 2+ release from internal stores (6) or via activation of Ca v channels due to terminal depolarisation (8). Also intracellular concentrations of Ca 2+ increase due to an alteration in the Na + gradient driving the Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger (7), an effect that also occurs in cardiac myocytes. The tonic action potential firing initiated in axons induces repetitive, synchronous and asynchronous neurotransmitter release at synapses and the neuromuscular junction (9), to produce transient increases and decreases in the quantal content of synaptic responses. This results in spontaneous and tetanic muscle contractions (10). In addition, ciguatoxins also impair synaptic vesicle recycling that exhausts the pool of neurotransmitter vesicle available for release (11).

Conclusions
Considerable progress has been made in determining the sources and chemical structures of the principal toxins involved in ciguatera. The action of ciguatoxin to increase Na + permeability through Na v channels that open at normal resting membrane potentials is now well accepted. As a consequence, ciguatoxins have been identified to affect various Na + -dependent mechanisms to enhance membrane excitability, activate Na + -Ca 2+ exchange, induce mobilization of intracellular Ca 2+ , and produce cell swelling. Recent evidence also points to the involvement of K v channels to enhance neuronal excitability in concert with the action of ciguatoxins on Na v subtypes (Fig. 7). These neurocellular actions of ciguatoxin are consistent with the generalized disturbance of nerve conduction, synaptic transmission and cellular morphology observed in intoxicated patients.
Despite this progress, treatment still remains non-specific, symptomatic and supportive. Various substances and herbal remedies have been used for the treatment of ciguatera but the efficacy of these therapeutic agents remains uncertain, and antagonists effective at specifically reversing the pathophysiological basis of ciguatoxin action remain elusive. One exception is intravenous hyperosmolar D-mannitol, which has evolved as a unique remedy for acutely poisoned patients, although its mechanism of action has not been determined definitively. The development of specific tests that detect the presence of ciguatoxin and related toxins in fish prior to consumption, as well as human biomarkers of ciguatoxins will significantly improve the management of ciguatera, and overcome present limitations of diagnosis and existing therapies.