The effect of p,p'-DDT (dicophane) and its main metabolites on the respiration of rat liver mitochondria

The effects of DDT, DDE, DDOH and DDA on the oxidation of NADH, glutamate, -hydroxybutyrate and sucoinate by rat liver mitochondria were investigated. The influence of these compounds on the activity of purified liver glutamate dehydrogenase was also checked. It was found that DDT and all those of its metabolites investigated inhibited oxidation of NAD-linked substrates by both intact and sonicated mitochondria. The water-soluble metabolites of DDT (DDOH and DDA) stimulated succinate oxidation by intact but not by sonicated mitochondria, and inhibited the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase. It is concluded that DDT and its metabolites may affect mitochondrial respiratory chain between NADH and CoQ, inhibit glutamate dehydrogenase, and uncouple oxidative phosphorylation.