Distribution of Microcystis aeruginosa Peptide Toxin and Interactions with Hepatic Microsomes in Mice

Purified 14C-labelled peptide toxin from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa was administered intraperitoneally to mice and the distribution of label determined between the major organs. Seventy per cent of the label was localized in the liver after 1 min.; this value increasing to almost 90 per cent after 3 hours. Label associated with the lungs and other individual organs varied between 10 and 1 per cent of the 14C recovered throughout. Three microsomal enzyme inducers, beta-naphthoflavone, 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital, afforded protection against liver damage and extended survival if given to mice before the administration of an LD50 dose of toxin. Toxin-dependent changes in liver cytochrome levels were also reduced by the enzyme inducers.