Electron microscopic studies on experimental poisoning in mice induced by cylindrospermopsin isolated from blue-green alga Umezakia natans

The effects of cylindrospermopsin isolated from a blue-green alga Umezakia natans on mice were examined morphologically and biochemically. The main target of the phycotoxin was the liver. The thymus, kidneys and heart were also affected. There were four consecutive phases of the pathological changes in the liver. The initial phase was that of inhibition of the protein synthesis, the second phase of membrane proliferation followed, and then the third phase of fat droplet accumulation and finally the phase of cell death. Using globin synthesis in the rabbit reticulocytes system, it was clearly demonstrated that cylindrospermopsin is a potent inhibitor of the protein synthesis. Protein in microsomes from the mouse livers treated by cylindrospermopsin decreased in amount more significantly than that of phospholipid in microsomes. Furthermore, the amount of total P450 was extensively diminished in the toxin treated with hepatic microsomes.