Effect of T-2 mycotoxin on rat liver mitochondria electron transport system

The in vitro and in vivo effects of T-2 mycotoxin on electron transport in rat liver mitochondria were investigated. T-2 toxin (2.2 mM) inhibited oxygen consumption by 40% in ADP-coupled and DNP-uncoupled mitochondria using either succinate or pyridine-nucleotide linked substrates. Studies employing known inhibitors of specific sites along the electron transport chain identified site I as the principal site of action of T-2 toxin. In vivo experiments using an LD50 dose of T-2 toxin showed early (10 hr) decreases in succinate and pyruvate plus malate oxidation in liver mitochondria. This observation is supported by in vitro findings and suggests that mitochondria are a possible site of T-2 action.