ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the detrimental effects of hemorrhagic shock on the structure and function of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) encoding cytochrome oxidase genes in intestinal epithelial cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were used and divided into two groups: hemorrhagic shock group and control group. Hemorrhagic shock model of rats was utilized in this experiment. The mtDNA was extracted from the intestinal epithelial cells and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with different primers of cytochrome oxidase (COX I, COX II and COX III). The products of PCR were directly sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hemorrhagic shock could result in the point mutagenesis in mitochondrial genome encoding cytochrome oxidase (COX I and COX II). There were 4, 4, 22, 16, 35 point mutations in COX I from 5545 to 6838 bp in 5 shocked rats. There were five point mutations in COX II from 7191 to 7542 bp at the site of t7191c, t7212c, a7386g, a7483g, c7542g in 1 shocked rat. There was no mutation found in COX III.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hemorrhagic shock could significantly induce the damage of the gene of cytochrome oxidase encoded by mtDNA.</p>