The sequence of Opsanus beta (Gulf Toadfish)

Opsanus beta limit chemosensory information given to predators through a unique ‘waste’ nitrogen excretory pattern, in which urea is used to mask the scent of toadfish to predators. This ‘ureotelic strategy’ in turn makes Opsanus beta extremely resistant to ammonia challenge and thus an important model for the suite of human diseases known as hepatic encephalopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by hepatic failure resulting from chronic alcoholism, acute acetominophen toxicity, and inborn errors of the urea cycle, among other causes.

豹蟾鱼（Opsanus beta）通过独特的含氮废物排泄模式限制捕食者获取其化学感应信息：该模式利用尿素掩盖自身气味以躲避捕食者侦测。这种排尿素代谢策略（ureotelic strategy）反过来使豹蟾鱼对氨胁迫具备极强的耐受性，因此成为以肝性脑病（hepatic encephalopathy）为代表的一系列人类疾病的重要研究模型。肝性脑病可由慢性酒精中毒、急性对乙酰氨基酚中毒、尿素循环先天缺陷等多种诱因引发的肝功能衰竭所导致。