Uptake and Subcellular Localization of Tritiated Dihydro-Microcystin-LR in RatLiver

摘要

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR, cyanoginosin-LR) is a cyclic, heptapeptide hepatotoxin(mol. wt = 994) produced by the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium), Microcystis aeruginosa. Toxic blooms in ponds and water reservoirs have been associated with numerous livestock deaths and implicated epidemiologically in human illness. Microcystins are specifically hepatotoxic. In rats and mice they cause rapid centrilobular hepatocyte necrosis, with breakdown of the sinusoidal endothelium, intrahepatic hemorrhage, and death. Primary toxic effects in other organs are not evident. Studies using radiolabeled microcystins have shown that they are rapidly taken up by the liver.