Über die Radikalkonzentration von Rattenleber-Mitochondrien in Abhängigkeit von verschiedenen Faktoren

Abstract

The concentration of free radicals in freshly prepared ratliver-mitochondria was investigated under different conditions with the aid of electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The electron spin resonance signal at g=2.004 was measured at 77 °K and related to the weight in milligrams of mitochondrial protein. The concentration of free radicals increases with rising body weight or, in other words, with decreasing growth rate of the animals. A plateau is reached with about 1013 radicalcenters per mg protein for grown animals. The concentration of free radicals is 150% of the control value after fasting for 24 hours, whereas it is below the detectable level in cells of ascites hepatoma. We conclude that the concentration of free radicals determined at g = 2.004 is a function of mitochondrial activity. After whole body x-irradiation with a dose of 900 R, a significant decrease of 20% of the signal amplitude was measured. Increasing the dose to 1800 R did not decrease the radical concentration further. These results might be connected with the diminished activity of some flavin enzymes observed in liver mitochondria after x-irradiation in vivo. In further experiments we have incubated the mitochondria in vitro with various inhibitors of flavin enzymes. The individual inhibitors (ammonium-ions, KCN, acetonitrile, glucose) and also malonate reduce the concentration of free radicals to 80% of the control value in the mean if the particles are incubated at 37 °C for 5 minutes. The effect of malonate adds to the effects of the other inhibitors. The inhibitory effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol develops only after a longer incubation time. These results are discussed in connection with the influence of the same inhibitors on the Pasteureffect of yeast cells. Some specific inhibitors of the respiratory chain (Amytal, antimycin A, oligomycin) also diminish the concentration of free radicals.