STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PEROXISOMICINE ON CATALASE ACTIVITY IN ALBINO MICE

Peroxisomicine is a toxic compound isolated from plants of the genus K arwinskia (Rhamnaceae). This toxin produces irreversible and selective damage to the peroxisomes of yeast cells in vivo. Peroxisomicine also inhibits catalase activity in vitro, when using purified enzyme. This paper reports on the effect of peroxisomicine on liver catalase in ti ssue fragments, in situ, as well as in mice intoxicated with peroxisom icine, in vivo. The catalase activity was determined by biochemical an d histochemical methods. In contrast with the reported findings in vit ro, the results demonstrate that there is no inhibition of the activit y of tissue catalase, and suggest that catalase in situ and in vivo is protected against the inhibitory effect of peroxisomicine by an unkno wn factor. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.