Biochemical and ultrastructural changes in biological membranes induced by p,p'-DDT (chlorophenotanum) and its metabolites.

Alterations in membranes structure of rat liver mitochondria and chick embryo heart cells treated in vitro with p,p'-DDT and its main metabolites were investigated. Electron-microscopic study presented in this paper showed that DDT, DDE and DDA damaged the ultrastructure of mitochondrial membranes. Experiments with isolated chicken embryo heart cells showed that DDT and DDE damaged cell membranes which became permeable to polycation -- protamine. A target -- site for DDT in biomembranes is discussed. It is concluded that DDT and some of its metabolites are responsible for the dearrangement of biological membranes.