Mitochondrial oxygen consumption by the foreskin and its fibroblast-rich culture

This study investigated the feasibility of using a phosphorescence oxygen analyser to measure cellular respiration [mitochondrial O[2] consumption] in foreskin samples and their fibroblast-rich cultures. Foreskin specimens from normal infants were collected immediately after circumcision and processed for measuring cellular respiration and for culture. Cellular mitochondrial O[2] consumption was determined as a function of time from the phosphorescence decay of the Pd [II] meso-tetra-[4-sulfonatophenyl]-tetrabenzoporphyrin. In sealed vials containing a foreskin specimen and glucose, O[2] concentration decreased linearly with time, confirming the zero-order kinetics of O[2] consumption by cytochrome oxidase. Cyanide inhibited O[2] consumption, confirming that the oxidation occurred mainly in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The rate of foreskin respiration [mean +/- SD] was 0.074 +/- 0.02 microM O[2] min[-1] mg[-1] [n = 23]. The corresponding rate for fibroblast-rich cultures was 9.84 +/- 2.43 microM O[2] min[-1] per 10[7] cells [n = 15]. Fibroblast respiration was significantly lower in a male infant with dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene mutations, but normalised with the addition of thiamine or carnitine. The foreskin and its fibroblast-rich culture are suitable for assessment of cellular respiration. However, the clinical utility of foreskin specimens to detect disorders of impaired cellular bioenergetics requires further investigation