The effects of cantharidin upon subcellular particles

Abstract

The effects of cantharidin on subcellular particles of rat liver were investigated. Some mitochondrial processes were affected. In the poisoned animal oxidative phosphorylation was found to be uncoupled. In vitro studies showed a variable effect, uncoupling when succinate or d,l-β-hydroxybutyrate was used as substrate and a stimulation when l-glutamate, α-ketoglutarate, or pyruvate was utilized. With the latter substrates the amount of inorganic phosphate uptake and oxygen consumption increased about twofold, and the P/O ratio was maintained. The effect was sensitive to 2,4-dinitrophenol. Cantharidin was shown to be capable of causing swelling in rat liver mitochondria. This action was not reversed by 2,4-dinitrophenol or carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazine. Amino acid incorporation into microsomal protein was not impaired in the cantharidin-poisoned animal. Lysosomal hydrolases were found not to be increased in these animals.