Inhibition of mouse brain synaptosomal ATPases and ouabain binding by chlordecone

The effect of chlordecone on the mouse brain synaptosomal Na+-K+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (PNPPase) activities was determined. In addition, the effect of chlordecone on [3H] ouabain binding to synaptosomes was also investigated. The in vitro data show that chlordecone inhibits PNPPase, Na+-K+ ATPase, and Mg2+ ATPase activities with ID50 values of 4, 5 and 7 micrograms respectively. Treatment of mice with symptomatogenic doses of chlordecone resulted in a decreased synaptosomal Na+-K+ and oligomycin-sensitive (mitochondrial) Mg2+ ATPases. The decrease was dose-dependent. The oligomycin-insensitive Mg2+ ATPase activity was unaffected either in vitro or in vivo. The binding of [3H] ouabain to synaptosomal membranes was inhibited by chlordecone in a dose-dependent manner in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The binding of [14C] chlordecone to synaptosomes occurs even at nanomolar concentrations. The marked inhibition of brain synaptosomal ATPases and ouabain binding by chlordecone suggests that chlordecone may impair active transport mechanisms in synaptosomal membranes.