Acute axonal dystrophy caused by fluorocitrate: the role of mitochondrial swelling.

Fluorocitrate, a Krebs cycle inhibitor, induices neurons to rapidly expel multitudinous lysosomes, mitochondria, and other cytoplasmic constituents into their axons. After convulsive seizures commence, spectacular axonal balloons develop owing to obstruction of axonal flow by "log jams" of extruded organelles. A swelling of neuronal mitochondria is apparently responsible for the disgorgement of cytoplasmic material into axons.