Non-cholinergic toxicity of organophosphates in mammals: interaction of ethaphos with mitochondrial functions.

The effect of the organophosphorus insecticide O-ethyl-S-propyl-2,4-dichlorophenylphosphorothioate (ethaphos) on mitochondrial functions was studied. It was shown that ethaphos interacts with mitchondrial oxidative metabolism and inhibits oxidation of succinate, alpha-glycerophosphate and pyruvate+malate at concentrations of 100, 75 and 50 micrograms mg-1 mitochondrial protein, respectively. Mitochondria treated with ethaphos show no changes in the inner membrane permeability and activity of cytochromes of the respiratory chain.