The mechanism of alloxan toxicity: an indication for alloxan complexes in tissues and alloxan inhibition of 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS) binding for the liver cell membrane.

It is shown that alloxan inhibits binding of SITS to liver cells. This indicates the cell membrane as a site of alloxan action. Alloxan is found to react with tissues to form complexes that are detectable up to 3 hrs after alloxan treatment. On the basis of the present findings, an assumption is made that alloxan inhibits a cell membrane processes by blockade of functionally importnat groups.