Studies of practolol on mitochondrial metabolism. Effect on ATPase activity and on membrane potential

Effects of practolol on the ATPase activity and mitochondrial membrane potential were studied. The drug enhanced the ATPase activity on undamagedmitochondria and showed very little effect on broken mitochondria. No effect was observed on the ATPase activity by F1-isolated. Practolol gives rise to a decrease in the membrane potential upon energization of the mitochondrial membrane. It is possible that the mechanism of action of practolol could be related with alterations of in permeability (Na+, K+, or Ca2+)