Non-specific binding of palytoxin to plastic surfaces.

The changes in blood pressure induced by palytoxin (PTX) administered intravenously through polyethylene (PE) tubing were varied, suggesting either non-specific binding of the toxin to PE or deactivation. By spectrophotometry and HPLC, we found that PTX bound non-specifically to PE tubing and that this binding was attenuated by adding 0.1% rat serum albumin. Furthermore, the chemical stability and activity of PTX were not affected by exposure to room light and/or room temperature. Biological deactivation was excluded as a cause of the observed variability because the hypertensive and lethal effects of infused PTX, delayed with simultaneous administration of sodium nitroprusside (NNP), were in full evidence when the NNP was discontinued 35 min later.