The induction of mitochondrial swelling by chaetochromin A, a bis(naphtho-γ-pyrone) mycotoxin from Chaetomium gracile

Abstract

Chaetochromin A, a bis (naphtho-γ-pyrone) mycotoxin produced by Chaetomiur gracile was examined for the induction of mitochondrial swelling using isolated rat heart and liver mitochondria. Chaetochromin A induced a marked swelling of both heart and liver mito-chondria suspended in isotonic KCl or sucrose solution, implying a possibility of direct injurious action of chaetochromin A to mitochondria in vivo. The swelling was not induced by chaeto-chromin A in the presence of magnesium ion.