Effect of chlordane on rat liver mitochondrial respiration

In attempting to clarify the toxicity of chlordane, its effects on respiratory activities in hepatic mitochondria and on electron transport in sonicated submitochondrial particles were examined. State 3 and 4 respiration, and DNP-released respiration were inhibited by chlordane compounds, with the ranked degree of inhibition was in descending order being, trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, and heptachlor. The inhibitory effects of chlordane were more remarkable in the presence of succinate as a respiratory substrate than in the presence of β-hydroxybutylate or ascorbate. Heptachlor also decreased cytochrome C reduction by NADH-cytochrome C reductase. The results suggest that chlordane does not seem to be a specific inhibitor such as cyanide, rotenone, or antimycin A.