Direct effects of Vaccinium myrtillus L. fruit extracts on rat heart mitochondrial functions.

In this study, the direct influence of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) rich in anthocyanins on the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated rat heart mitochondria was investigated in vitro. Higher concentrations of bilberry extracts concentration-dependently inhibited mitochondrial state 3 respiration (by 23%-61%) with pyruvate plus malate, mildly (by 1.2- to 1.3-fold) uncoupled the oxidative phosphorylation, and increased (by 30%-87%) the state 4 respiration rate in the presence of exogenous cytochrome c. Succinate oxidation was less affected. Pure anthocyanins, the main components of used extracts, malvidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-galactoside, and cyanidin-3-galactoside, had no effect on oxidation of pyruvate plus malate. A statistically significant decrease in H2 O2 production by mitochondria was found in the presence of bilberry fruit extracts. Our findings show that bilberry fruit anthocyanin-rich extracts possess direct effects on rat heart mitochondrial function in vitro. These findings give the first insights into the mechanism(s) of their action on cellular energy metabolism.

The effect of crataegus fruit extract and some of its flavonoids on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the heart.

Crataegus (Hawthorn) fruit extracts (CE) are widely used for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases (arrhythmias, heart failure, myocardial weakness, etc). Despite the fact that many of these diseases are associated with disturbances of the mitochondria, no data have been found on the effect of CE on their function. The aim of this study was to perform an oxygraphic investigation of the effect of CE (in concentration range from 70 ng/mL to 13.9 microg/mL of Crataegus phenolic compounds (PC)) and its several pure flavonoids on isolated rat heart mitochondria respiring on pyruvate+malate, succinate and palmitoyl-L-carnitine+malate. CE at doses under 278 ng/mL of PC had no effect on mitochondrial functions. At concentrations from 278 ng/mL to 13.9 microg/mL of PC, CE stimulated State 2 respiration by 11%-34% with all used substrates, and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential by 1.2-4.4 mV measured with a tetraphenylphosphonium-selective electrode and H2O2 production measured fluorimetrically. Similar uncoupling effects on mitochondrial respiration were observed with several pure CE flavonoids. The highest CE concentration also slightly reduced the maximal ADP-stimulated and uncoupled respiration, which might be due to inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain between flavoprotein and cytochrome c. Whether or not the uncoupling and other effects of CE on mitochondria may be realized in vivo remains to be determined.

Molecular modelling of K(ATP) channel blockers-ADP/ ATP carrier interactions.

The modelling of molecule-molecule interactions has been widely accepted as a tool for drug discovery and development studies. However, this powerful technique is unappreciated in physiological and biochemical studies, where it could be extremely useful for understanding the mechanisms of action of various compounds in cases when experimental data are controversial due to complexity of the investigated systems. In this study, based on the biochemical data suggesting involvement of mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier in K+ and H+ transport to mitochondrial matrix molecular modelling is applied to elucidate the possible interactions between the ADP/ATP carrier and its putative ligands--K(ATP) channel blockers glybenclamide, tolbutamide and 5-hydroxydecanoate. Results revealed that K(ATP) channel blockers could bind to the specific location proximal to H1, H4, H5 and H6 transmembrane helices within the cavity of the ADP/ ATP carrier. Analysis of the predicted binding site suggests that K(ATP) channel blockers could interfere with both the ADP/ATP translocation and possible cation flux through the ADP/ATP carrier, and supports the hypothesis that the ADP/ATP carrier is a target of K(ATP) channel modulators.

The effect of flavonoids on rat heart mitochondrial function.

In this study the effects of flavonoids (quercetin and its derivatives as rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin) on the oxidative phosphorylation in rat heart mitochondria were investigated. We found that all investigated flavonoids possessed uncoupling activity. Thus, quercetin, rutin, and quercitrin in dose-dependent manner induced a stimulation of the State 2 respiration rate by 10-110% with pyruvate + malate as substrate. The maximal stimulation of the State 2 respiration rate was obtained at 1.08 ng/ml of quercetin, 15.2 ng/ml of hyperoside and 44.4 ng/ml of rutin. Quercitrin had clearly lower effects. The State 3 respiration rate was also affected by flavonoids. Quercetin (from 1.08 ng/ml), hyperoside (from 10 ng/ml) and rutin (from 60 ng/ml) caused the decrease in State 3 respiration rate by 16-51%. We assume, that partial mitochondrial uncoupling (without affecting the State 3 respiration rate) induced by flavonoids could have a cardioprotective effect, and that mitochondria could be involved in the mechanism of this process.

Relevance of fatty acid oxidation in regulation of the outer mitochondrial membrane permeability for ADP.

The present study on saponin-treated rat heart muscle fibers has revealed a new function of the fatty acid oxidation system in the regulation of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) permeability for ADP. It is found that oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA+carnitine, palmitoyl-L-carnitine and octanoyl-L-carnitine (alone or in combination with pyruvate+malate) dramatically decreased a very high value of apparent K(m) of oxidative phosphorylation for ADP. Octanoyl-D-carnitine, as well as palmitate, palmitoyl-CoA, and palmitoyl-L-carnitine were not effective in this respect, when their oxidation was prevented by the absence of necessary cofactors or blocked with rotenone. Our data suggest that oxidation, but not transport of fatty acids into mitochondria, induces an increase in the OMM permeability for ADP.

What controls the outer mitochondrial membrane permeability for ADP: facts for and against the role of oncotic pressure.

In our study 10% of bovine serum albumin was added to the physiological incubation medium to mimic the oncotic pressure of the cellular cytoplasm and to test for its effect on the respiration of isolated rat heart mitochondria, saponin- or saponin plus crude collagenase (type IV)-treated heart muscle fibers and saponin-treated rat quadriceps muscle fibers. Pyruvate and malate were used as substrates. We found that albumin slightly decreased the maximal ADP-stimulated respiration rate only for saponin-treated heart muscle fibers. The apparent Km ADP of oxidative phosphorylation increased significantly, by 70-100%, for isolated heart mitochondria, saponin plus collagenase-treated heart muscle fibers and for saponin-treated quadriceps muscle fibers but remained unchanged for saponin-treated heart muscle fibers. The saponin-treated heart muscle fibers were characterized by a very high control apparent Km ADP value (234+/-24 microM ADP) compared with other preparations (14-28 microM ADP). The results suggest that in vivo the oncotic pressure is not the relevant factor causing the low outer mitochondrial membrane permeability for ADP in cardiomyocytes, in contrast to quadriceps muscle cells. It is likely that the outer mitochondrial membrane-bound protein(s) which is supposed to remain in saponin-treated heart muscle fibers is responsible for this property of the membrane.

The effects of ischemia and experimental conditions on the respiration rate of cardiac fibers.

The mitochondrial respiratory parameters were measured in situ, i.e. in saponin-skinned rabbit cardiac fibers and in fibers treated with saponin + collagenase. It was found that the decrease of maximal ADP-stimulated respiration rate of saponin-skinned fibers with pyruvate + malate under the conditions of total ischemia (0.5-1.5 h) is less pronounced as compared to isolated mitochondria. Maximal succinate oxidation rate (+ADP), however, was not different from control (1 h ischemia) but it exceeded the control level when measured in the medium supplemented with cytochrome c. It was also demonstrated that treatment of fibers with collagenase alone or in combination with saponin significantly (almost 2 fold) enhanced the maximal ADP-stimulated respiration rate if compared with saponin-skinned fibers. The data obtained suggest that mitochondrial respiration in saponin-skinned rabbit cardiac fibers is not completely revealed, most probably, due to insufficient permeabilization of sarcolemma by saponin and, thus, inadequate accessibility of mitochondria to exogenous substrates, ADP in particular. These parameters can be improved by pre-treatment of fibers with collagenase.

The effect of collagenase and temperature on mitochondrial respiratory parameters in saponin-skinned cardiac fibers.

The results of a comparative study of the respiration rates of mitochondria in saponin-skinned rat cardiac fibers (SF) and in fibers treated with saponin and collagenase (SCF) suggest that only about half of the whole population of mitochondria manifest their activity in SF, in contrast to SCF, in response to extracellular substrates of oxidative phosphorylation. The apparent K(m) value for ADP with succinate as substrate, which was as high as 330 +/- 32 microM in SF in SF at 20 degrees C, decreased about 2-fold in SCF at the same temperature and in SF at 37 degrees C, and decreased further to 67 +/- 8 microM in SCF at 37 degrees C. Thus, weakening or breaking of cellular contacts by collagenase and the temperature-dependence of diffusion of substrates such as ADP, seem to be important factors that determine the respiratory activity and regulatory parameters of mitochondria in saponin-permeabilized cardiomyocytes.

Kinetic analysis of changes in activity of heart mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system induced by ischemia.

The authors have previously shown that ischemia causes inhibition of the respiratory chain and phosphorylation system, and stimulation of the proton leak of mitochondria isolated from rat heart. It is shown here that the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (after 30 min ischemia, but not after 45 min) and the phosphorylation system are completely restored to the normal level by the addition of exogenous cytochrome c when succinate is used as substrate. Moreover, cytochrome c causes apparent activation of the respiratory chain, the phosphorylation system and the proton leak in normal mitochondria. This can be explained by a fraction of the mitochondrial population lacking cytochrome c and this fraction may increase with ischemia. Experiments on skinned cardiac fibers showed that cytochrome c has no effect on mitochondrial respiration after 15 min ischemia, but the stimulation of respiration by cytochrome c progressively increases when ischemia was prolonged up to 30 min and 45 min, suggesting that the loss of cytochrome c may occur in vivo during the early reversible phase of ischemia. Mitochondria isolated from hearts after 45 min ischemia have a defect in the respiratory chain unrelated to the loss of cytochrome c. These mitochondria have an increased level of Ca2+: 10.05 nmol/mg protein compared to 4.64 nmol/mg in control mitochondria and 4.32 nmol/mg in 30 min ischemic mitochondria. The increase in the proton leak in ischemic mitochondria is mostly reversible by albumin and thus, may be related to an increased level of free fatty acids in ischemic mitochondria.

The function of ATP/ADP translocator in the regulation of mitochondrial respiration during development of heart ischemic injury.

Inhibitor titration studies were carried out in order to quantify the amount of control exerted by ATP/ADP translocator on the rate of succinate, palmitoylcarnitine + malate and pyruvate + malate oxidation in ischemia-damaged heart mitochondria. It was shown that after 30 min of total ischemia in vitro the maximal value of the control coefficient of the translocator was as high as in the control: 0.5-0.72 (succinate), 0.8-0.87 (palmitoylcarnitine + malate), 0.83-0.95 (pyruvate+malate). However, the translocator-controlled range of respiratory rates of ischemic mitochondria was narrower than that of normal mitochondria. The control coefficient of the translocator close to State 3 and State 4 was equal to 0-0.15. After 45 min ischemia the maximal value of the translocator control coefficient decreased by 25-30% in comparison with normal mitochondria with all substrates investigated. This value was preserved within a wide range of mitochondrial respiratory rates including the maximal rate in State 3. It was found that the amount of ATP/ADP translocator in mitochondria decreased by 20% after only 45 min ischemia. Our data show that the ATP/ADP translocator is one of the most important steps in regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in isolated mitochondria during development of heart ischemic injury.

[Regulation of the heart mitochondrial respiration rate. Comparison of oxidation of succinate and NAD-dependent substrates]. / Reguliatsiia skorosti dykhaniia v mitokhondriiiakh serdtsa. Sravnenie okisleniia suktsinata i NAD-zavisimykh substratov.

Regulation of respiration at all rates between State 4 and State 3 was studied in heart mitochondria oxidizing FAD- and NAD-dependent substrates (succinate, pyruvate + + malate and palmitoylcarnitine). The creatine phosphokinase ADP-regenerating system was used which allows to fix the concentrations of extramitochondrial adenine nucleotides in such a way that the rate of respiration is controlled by mitochondrial processes alone. It was shown that respiration is controlled by delta mu(H+)-utilizing system within the respiration rate interval from State 4 till 70-80% of the maximal rate in State 3 (corresponding to physiological rates) both for NAD- and FAD-dependent substrates. The main step in the control of respiration near State 4 is proton leakage through the inner mitochondrial membrane, whereas in all the other parts of the mentioned interval this role is assigned to the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT). The control coefficient for ANT is higher, while that of proton leakage is lower at the same relative rates of respiration with NAD-dependent substrates compared with succinate. These differences were found to be related to much higher values of the membrane potential generated at the same relative rates of succinate oxidation in comparison with the case with pyruvate + + malate. The contribution of delta mu(H+)-utilizing system to respiration control sharply decreases, whereas that of the delta mu(H+)-generating system increases at maximal rates of respiration near State 3. This phenomenon in more characteristic of succinate. In this case the control coefficient of ANT drops to zero, while that of succinate dehydrogenase rises to 0.7.

[Effects of elemental sulphur on the activity of adenylate kinase and performance of isolated rabbit heart]. / Vliianie élementarnoi sery na aktivnost' adenilatkinazy i rabotu izolirovannogo serdtsa krolika.

The experiments performed have shown that elemental sulphur inhibited only cytoplasmic isoenzyme of adenylate kinase without having any effect on mitochondrial isoenzyme. Effect of sulphur is related to its reaction with SH-groups of enzyme. Sulphur also by 50% inhibited cytoplasmic adenylate kinase in intact myocardium during perfusion of isolated rabbit heart. Under this circumstances the amplitude of contractions is diminished but perfusate flow is increased. Thus elemental sulphur must be considered as a new specific SH-reagent and vasodilator drug.

[The role of long-chain acyl-CoA in the disturbances of oxidative phosphorylation in the myocardium]. / Rol' dlinnotsepochechnykh atsil-KoA v narushenii okislitel'nogo fosforilirovaniia v miokarde.

The effect of intramitochondrial acyl-CoA on the respiration of rabbit heart mitochondria in different metabolic states was studied. Acyl-CoA inhibited O2 consumption by 11% in State 4 and by 6% in State 3. However, the effect of acyl-CoA was more pronounced (20%) in the intermediate state of respiration between State 4 and State 3. The data obtained suggest that acyl-CoA can regulate oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria in vivo.

The role of long-chain acyl-CoA in the damage of oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria.

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of intramitochondrial acyl-CoA on the respiration of rabbit heart mitochondria over the whole range of stationary respiratory rates between States 4 and 3. The creatine phosphokinase system was used for stabilization of extramitochondrial adenine nucleotide concentration. It was shown that acyl-CoA depressed respiration more effectively in the intermediate range of respiration between States 4 and 3. The effect of acyl-CoA was negligible near State 4 and in State 3. These data are in line with our previous results concerning the dependence of the adenine nucleotide translocator control coefficient on the rate of mitochondrial respiration. Thus, our data suggest that long-chain acyl-CoA may regulate oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria in vivo.

[The state of membrane structures of heart cells during ischemia]. / Izuchenie tselostnosti membrannykh struktur kletok serdtsa pri ishemii.

Under conditions of perfusion of isolated rabbit heart in aerobic medium and, especially, during ischemia, cytochrome c was liberated from heart cells into perfusate, thus indicating that integrity of mitochondrial outer membrane and of cell membrane was impaired. In situ developed deficiency of cytochrome c was distinctly less as compared with isolated mitochondria (50%, 3 hrs perfusion in ischemia), which appears to occur in response to ultrastructural impairments of mitochondria arising during their isolation and to other reasons.

[The role of adenine nucleotide translocator in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria]. / Rol' perenoschika adeninnukleotidov v reguliatsii okislitel'nogo fosforilirovaniia v mitokhondriiakh serdtsa.

The regulatory role of adenine nucleotide translocase in oxidative phosphorylation was determined by titration of respiration of isolated rabbit heart mitochondria with carboxyatractyloside in the creatine phosphokinase ADP-regenerating system, which is not rate-limiting. It was found that the respiration rate is not controlled by adenine nucleotide translocase in states 3 and 4. Within the physiological region of respiration (30-70% of the maximal rate), the control coefficient for ADP/ATP translocase is 0.62-0.75. Thus, translocase plays a key role in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation.

[Participation of the adenine nucleotide translocator in the regulation of pyruvate oxidation in heart mitochondria]. / Uchastie perenoschika adeninnukleotidov v reguliatsii okisleniia piruvata v mitokhondriiakh serdtsa.

A regulatory role of adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) was determined by titration of mitochondrial respiration (state 3) with carboxyatractyloside. It was shown that ANT regulates pyruvate oxidation: the control strength is more pronounced after depletion of endogenous substrates or after the increase in extramitochondrial ATP/ADP. The rate of succinate oxidation is controlled mainly by succinate dehydrogenase, while ANT does not participate in its regulation.

[Functional changes in the mitochondrial site of adenylate kinase and creatine kinase systems of energy transport induced by myocardial ischemia and adriablastin]. / Funktsional'nye izmeneniia mitokhondrial'nogo uchastka adenilatkinaznoi i kreatinkinaznoi sistem transporta énergii pod vliianiem ishemii miokarda i adriablastina.

Under effects of myocardial ischemia (30 min), the activities of the intermembrane enzymes of rabbit heart mitochondria, i.e., adenylate kinase and creatine kinase, are inhibited by 20% and 23%, respectively. Consequently, the creatine- and AMP-activated respiration of mitochondria diminishes by 52% and 39%, respectively. An inhibitory analysis of ADP-, AMP- and creatine-activated mitochondrial respiration performed in the presence of atractyloside has demonstrated that ischemia (30 min), adriblastin (0.688 mM) and succinate (10 mM) cause alterations in the functional coupling of adenylate kinase and creatine kinase with the adenine nucleotide translocator. These alterations lead to the diminution of the rate and efficiency of energy transfer from mitochondria to hexokinase, as an arbitrary site of energy consumption. An addition of cytochrome c to ischemic heart mitochondria results in an increase in the rate of ATP synthesis; however, the efficiency of this process is lowered. The toxic effect of the anticancer drug--adriblastin on heart mitochondria respiration is enhanced in the presence of creatine in the bathing solution.

The role of adenine nucleotide translocators in regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria.

The regulative role of adenine nucleotide translocators (ANTs) in oxidative phosphorylation has been estimated by the titration of respiration of isolated rabbit heart mitochondria with carboxyatractyloside in the presence of a non-rate limiting creatine phosphokinase ADP-regenerating system. It has been established that the respiration rate is not controlled by ANTs in the two extreme states, state 3 and state 4. On the other hand, at an intermediate respiration rate (30-70% of the state 3 respiration, which roughly corresponds to that under physiological conditions) the ANT control coefficient had a value of 0.62-0.75. Thus, ANTs seem to play a key role in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation.

[The role of carnitine in the energy metabolism of mitochondria and myocardial cells during ischemia and post-ischemic reperfusion]. / Rol' karnitina v énergeticheskom obmene mitokhondrii i miokardial'noi kletki pri ishemii i postishemicheskoi reperfuzii.

L-Carnitine was shown to activate similarly or quite similarly the pyruvate + malate oxidation in control and ischemic mitochondria of rabbit heart at the third state. Carnitine did not alter effect of ischemia but decreased respiration at the fourth state. D, L-carnitine did not affect the total content of adenine nucleotides and ATP, the impairment of cell membranes in isolated rat heart under conditions of postischemic reperfusion as well as the coronary flow of perfusate, except of the control aerobic perfusion, where D,L-carnitine increased the coronary flow.