[Action of an antioxygen food additive, di-tertio-butyl-hydroxy-toluene on the electron transport and on the coupling of oxidation and phosphorylation in the liver mitochondria of rats].

BHT in vitro has a strong uncoupling effect on phosphorylating oxidations of hepatic mitochondria at concentrations less than or equal to 2.5.10(-4) M. On the contrary, no uncoupling is found after in vivo administration of 0.5% of BHT in rat diet. The differences between in vitro and in vivo results are discussed.