T-2 toxin effect on the ultrastructure of myocardial microvasculature.

The effect of T-2 toxin on the ultrastructure of coronary microvasculature was studied in rats injected intraperitoneally and in rats hearts perfused with the toxin. The capillaries were most severely damaged and were often disrupted. The plasma membrane of endothelial cells seemed to be the first structure affected. A direct cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin to the myocardial capillary lining cells seems to be the pathogenical mechanism of injury. The abundance of mast cells in several of the hearts examined suggests a role for their vasoactive products in the genesis of the capillary lesions.