ABSTRACT:
Membrane-dependent osmotic and redox effects of two dihydroaflatoxins (aflatoxin B2 and G2) on isolated rat liver mitochondria were investigated. These toxins did not cause any marked swelling, inhibit any ATP induced contraction or stimulate ATPase activity of mitochondria at concentrations within the range 1–2 x 10(-6) M. Redox measurements on the respiratory chain showed that both toxins inhibited respiration between cytochrome c and the terminal oxygen. The significance of these findings in relation to the differential toxicity of the aflatoxins is discussed.