Mitochondria as a target for neurotoxins and neuroprotective agents.

Mitochondrial permeability transition pores represent a multiprotein complex that includes components of both inner and outer membrane. The pores regulate transport of ions and peptides in and out of mitochondria, and their regulation is associated with a general mechanism for maintaining Ca(2+) homeostasis in the cell and apoptosis. Various pathologic factors may induce a pathologic activation of the permeability transition and an irreversible opening of mitochondria pores.