Consumption of mountain laurel by the North American Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) in late winter and early spring has allowed them to acquire which toxin?
Grayanotoxin is acquired by these birds through consumption of mountain laurel. According to the cited reference, “Grayanotoxin can bind to group II receptor sites in cellular voltage-gated sodium channels leading to prevention of inactivation of these channels, thus keeping the cell in a depolarized or “open” state,” leading to both neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects. The authors note, “While there are no recent published case reports of human poisoning […], medical literature from 1821 to 1882 has shown human poisonings after grouse meat consumption in multiple cities from northeastern USA, eastern Canada”
Yeung KA, Chai PR, Russell BL, Erickson TB. Avian Toxins and Poisoning Mechanisms. J Med Toxicol. 2022 Oct;18(4):321-333. doi: 10.1007/s13181-022-00891-6. Epub 2022 Apr 26. PMID: 35474563; PMCID: PMC9492810.