Effects of leucine methylester on guinea-pig atria

Superfusion of guinea-pig atria with 10 mM l-leucine methylester leads to a mechanical arrest and to an increase in protein outflow. Homogenate of atria exhibits a decrease in the sedimentability of phosphatase acid activity as compared to control. Morphological studies reveal that leucine methylester causes not only a lysosomal swelling but also a disruption of myofibrils and slight mitochondrial damage.