Sex and age differences in luteoskyrin hepatotoxicity.

1. Luteoskyrin, a hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin from the fungus of "yellowed rice" Penicillium islandicum Sopp, shows different toxicities depending on the age and sex in mice. The lethal toxicity was higher in young or male mice than in adult or female mice. 2. 3H-luteoskyrin was accumulated in the livers, especially in their mitochondria, of suckling or male mice in larger amounts than in those of adult and female mice. 3. Intravenously injected 3H-luteoskyrin was excreted into the feces more rapidly in female than in male mice. 4. Luteoskyrin added to a diet was accumulated in the liver at a much higher rate in male than in female mice. 5. The susceptibility of mice to luteoskyrin hepatotoxicity slowly correlates to the rate of its accumulation in their livers, which in turn reflects the rate of its biliary excretion.