[2] Penitrem A poisoning in humans and animals usually occurs through the consumption of contaminated foods by mycotoxin-producing species, which is then distributed through the body by the bloodstream.

[3] Penitrem A impairs GABAergic amino acid neurotransmission and antagonizes high-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels in both humans and animals.

[4] The sudden release of these neurotransmitters results in imbalanced GABAergic signalling, which gives rise to neurological disorders such as the tremors associated with penitrem A poisoning.

[4] Penitrem A also induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the neutrophil granulocytes of humans and animals.

[2] Increased ROS production results in tissue damage in the brain and other afflicted organs as well as hemorrhages in acute poisonings.