Investigation of the action of sporofusarin on cell membranes of the isolated perfused liver

The effect of sporofusarin (a myoctoxin produced byFusarium sporotrichiellav. sporotrichioides) on the functional activity and permeability of cell membranes of the isolated perfused rat liver was studied. Sporofusarin in a final concentration of 5.9·10^?5 M was found to reduce the rate of bile formation, urea synthesis, and oxygen consumption and also to cause an earlier and severe disturbance of permeability of the lysosomal and plasma membranes of the hepatocytes (an increase in activity of the enzymes β-acetylglucosaminidase, β-glucuronidase, arylsulfatases A and B, and β-galactosidase in the supernatant of a liver homogenate and in the perfusion fluid). The depression of liver function by sporofusarin is considered to be the result of damage to the membraneous structures of the cell and, in particular, of the lysosomes.