title: Injury to hepatocytes induced by a peptide toxin from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa.
abstract: The freshwater, bloom forming cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Microcystis aeruginosa produces a peptide hepatotoxin which causes death accompanied by liver necrosis. We show here that the time and dose-dependent blebbing of isolated hepatocytes is accompanied by the activation of phosphorylase a, with no changes in cyclic AMP levels, and by glutathione (acid-soluble thiols) depletion. These results suggest that the disruption of cytoskeletal structures is accompanied by disturbances in cellular calcium homeostasis and by decreased protection against oxidative damage to the cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D046931:Microcystis / Q000032:analysis*; D010455:Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D010762:Phosphorylase a / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D010762:Phosphorylase a; D005978:Glutathione