Mitochondrial responses under chemical stress

The science of toxicology today has reached a stage where the change from e xploration of biological responses to xenobiotics in terms of phenomenology , and to mechanistic explanations based on molecular logistics is all quite apparent. A conceptual mechanism regarding unity and diversity of stress h as been proposed by our laboratory. The generation of free radicals leading to membrane damage and alterations in calcium homeostasis seems to be the common unspecific mechanism in toxic responses which may lead to cell death . Changes in the mitochondrial structure and functions due to chemical or o xidative stress gives mechanistic clues and is an ideal system for studying such a phenomenon. Mitochondrial responses to some chemical agents with re spect to its redox equilibrium are presented here.