Trialkyllead compounds induce the opening of the MTP pore in rat liver mitochondria.
The interactions of the tributyl, triethyl and trimethyllead compounds with energized mitochondria have been investigated in this paper. It has been shown that the (alkyl)(3)Pb-Cl compounds induce swelling in mitochondria suspended in a sucrose medium. The phenomenon is more marked the higher the lipophilicity and occurs in the following order: (Bu)(3)Pb>(Et)(3)Pb>(Me)(3)Pb. As swelling is inhibited by cyclosporine, this suggests that the swelling is due to the opening of a trans-membrane pore (MTP pore) in the mitochondria. As this pore can be responsible for the inhibition of the ATP synthesis, and, consequently for cell death, the opening of the pore could be one of the reasons for the toxicity of the (alkyl)(3)Pb-X compounds.
Bragadin
Marcantonio
M
Environmental Sciences Department, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Dorsoduro D2137, 30123 Venice, Italy. bragadin@unive.it
Marton
Daniele
D
Manente
Sabrina
S
D000818:Animals; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013756:Tetraethyl Lead / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C113521:tributyllead chloride; D013756:Tetraethyl Lead; C010360:triethyllead; C039474:trimethyllead