The content of high-energy phosphates and ultrastructure of mitochondria in the brain of rats exposed to carbon disulphide.

Rats were exposed to carbon disulphide (CS2) continuously for 12 h or for 10 months, at concentrations of 2.4 mg/l air and 0.8 mg/l air, respectively. No changes in the brain content of ATP, ADP and AMP were found in rats after chronic exposure, whereas the content of ATP in the brain of rats acutely poisoned with CS2 was significantly higher (21%) accompanied by decrease in the content of ADP (10%) and AMP (45%). The biochemical changes were accompanied by ultrastructural changes of mitochondria, particularly those in the cerebellar perikaryons.