The mechanism of tissue protection from ischemic damage by activation of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent K(+) channel (mitoK(ATP)) remains unexplored. In this work, we have measured, using various approaches, the ATP-dependent mitochondrial K(+) transport in rats that differed in their resistance to hypoxia. The transport was found to be faster in the hypoxia-resistant rats as compared to that in the hypoxia-sensitive animals. Adaptation of animals to the intermittent normobaric hypoxia increased the rate of transport. At the same time, the intramitochondrial concentration of K(+) in the hypoxia-sensitive rats was higher than that in the resistant and adapted animals. This indicates that adaptation to hypoxia stimulates not only the influx of potassium into mitochondria, but also K(+)/H(+) exchange. When mitoK(ATP) was blocked, the rate of the mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production was found to be significantly higher in the hypoxia-resistant rats than that in the hypoxia-sensitive animals. The natural flavonoid-containing adaptogen Extralife, which has an evident antihypoxic effect, increased the rate of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent K(+) transport in vitro and increased the in vivo tolerance of hypoxia-sensitive rats to acute hypoxia 5-fold. The involvement of the mitochondrial K(+) transport in the mechanism of cell adaptation to hypoxia is discussed.
The effect of uridine on the myocardial ischemic and reperfusion injury was investigated. A possible mechanism of its cardioprotective action was established. Two rat models were used: (1) acute myocardial ischemia induced by occlusion of the left coronary artery for 60 min; and (2) myocardial ischemia/reperfusion with 30-min ischemia and 120-min reperfusion. In both models, treatment with uridine (30 mg/kg) prevented a decrease in cell energy supply and in the activity of the antioxidant system, as well as an increase in the level of lipid hydroperoxides and diene conjugates. This led to a reduction of the necrosis zone in the myocardium and disturbances in the heart rhythm. The blocker of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium (mitoKATP) channel 5-hydroxydecanoate limited the positive effects of uridine. The data indicate that the cardioprotective action of uridine may be related to the activation of the mitoKATP channel. Intravenously injected uridine was more rapidly eliminated from the blood in hypoxia than in normoxia, and the level of the mitoKATP channel activator UDP in the myocardium after uridine administration increased. The results suggest that the use of uridine can be a potentially effective approach to the management of cardiovascular diseases.
This study was the first comprehensive investigation of the dependence of mitochondrial enzyme response (catalytic subunits of mitochondrial complexes (MC) I-V, including NDUFV2, SDHA, Cyt b, COX1 and ATP5A) and mitochondrial ultrastructure in the rat cerebral cortex (CC) on the severity and duration of in vivo hypoxic exposures. The role of individual animal’s resistance to hypoxia was also studied. The respiratory chain (RC) was shown to respond to changes in environmental [O2] as follows: (a) differential reaction of mitochondrial enzymes, which depends on the severity of the hypoxic exposure and which indicates changes in the content and catalytic properties of mitochondrial enzymes, both during acute and multiple exposures; and (b) ultrastructural changes in mitochondria, which reflect various degrees of mitochondrial energization. Within a specific range of reduced О2 concentrations, activation of the МС II is a compensatory response supporting the RC electron transport function. In this process, MC I develops new kinetic properties, and its function recovers in hypoxia by reprograming the RC substrate site. Therefore, the mitochondrial RC performs as an in vivo molecular oxygen sensor. Substantial differences between responses of rats with high and low resistance to hypoxia were determined.
Flavonoid-containing plant preparations (water soluble extracts of Pentaphylloides fruticosa [Extralife], Emblica officinalis Gaerth [Amla], and Bergenia crassifolia [Bergenia]) produced a dose-dependent and tissue-specific effect on activity of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel. The effect of these preparations was biphasic (activation and inhibition). The activating effect of Extralife was one order of magnitude higher than that of Amla and Bergenia and was observed in a wider concentration range. The activating effect of preparations was abolished by inhibitors of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel, which attested to specificity of their influence on mitochondrial channel. Under in vivo conditions, the antihypoxic effect of Extralife was partially abolished by mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel inhibitor 5-hydroxydecanoate.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.