LOSS OF MITOCHONDRIAL-MEMBRANE POTENTIAL IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO HEPATOCYTE KILLING BY ALLYL ALCOHOL

Allyl alcohol-induced LDH leakage from isolated rat hepatocytes was pr eceded by a decrease in rhodamine 123 retention, signifying a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) pre vented the drop in membrane potential and completely prevented cell ki lling by allyl alcohol. In contrast, cyclosporin A and trifluoperazine delayed the loss of membrane potential without affecting cytolethalit y. The results indicate that a drop in mitochondrial membrane potentia l is not essential for allyl alcohol lethality. The mitochondrial dysf unction produced by allyl alcohol appears to be the consequence of an earlier event in the toxicity that is reversible by DTT.