Effect of xenobiotics on the respiratory activity of rat heart mitochondria and the concomitant formation of superoxide radicals

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620130320· OSTI ID:5027715

Stolze, K; Nohl, H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Vienna (Austria). Inst. of Pharmacology and Toxicology

The effects of the xenobiotics atrazine, benzene, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), lindane, toluene, and xylenol on the respiration of isolated rate heart mitochondria were studied. Bioenergetic parameters such as respiratory control (RC) and ATP/oxygen (P/O) values decreased considerably in the presence of these substances, and a concomitant increase of superoxide radical (O[sub 2][sup [minus]]) formation was observed. These observations were discussed in terms of partial damage of the inner mitochondrial membrane, impairing the maintenance of the proton gradient across this membrane. In the presence of protons, ubisemiquinone radicals (UQ[sup [minus]]) present in the inner mitochondrial membrane are able to react with molecular oxygen, thereby generating superoxide radicals. The changes of membrane potential and P/O values show a linear inverse correlation with O[sub 2][sup [minus]] formation rates, whereas this correlation with RC values was not linear.

• OSTI ID: 5027715
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 13:3; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MITOCHONDRIA
RESPIRATION
SUPEROXIDE RADICALS
BIOSYNTHESIS
TOLUENE
XENOBIOTICS
XYLENOLS
METABOLISM
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
RADICALS
SYNTHESIS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology