Peculiarities of Immediate Response of Respiratory Chain Enzymes in Rat Cerebral Cortex to Hypoxia.

We performed a complex study of the dependence of immediate reaction of catalytic subunits in mitochondrial enzymes (NDUFV2, SDHA, Cyt b, COX1, and ATP5A) in rat cerebral cortex (the most hypoxia-sensitive tissue) on the severity and duration of hypoxia in vivo and the role of individual resistance of rats to oxygen deficiency in this process. Three types of responses to hypoxia were revealed. The immediate response of mitochondria to oxygen deficiency appeared after its drop by 30-33% relatively to normal atmosphere level.

Specific Features of Immediate Ultrastructural Changes in Brain Cortex Mitochondria of Rats with Different Tolerance to Hypoxia under Various Modes of Hypoxic Exposures.

We performed ultrastructural study of cerebral cortex mitochondria in rats with different tolerance to oxygen deficiency (low resistant and highly resistant specimens). Low resistant rats were characterized by the prevalence of mitochondria with lightened matrix due to the nondense packing of cristae. By contrast, mitochondria of highly resistant animals had the dense packing of cristae.

Effects of flavonoid-containing preparation Extralife on hydrogen peroxide production and functioning of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel.

Extralife, a Pentaphylloides fruticos extract, in concentrations of 0.005-10 μg/ml dose-dependently increased H2O2 production in rat heart mitochondria in the presence of respiration substrates. Extralife decreased ATP-induced accumulation of H2O2 related to inhibition of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel.

Corrective effect of flavonoid-containing preparation Extralife on the development of Parkinson's syndrome.

Oral administration of flavonoid-containing preparation Extralife (daily dose 40 mg/kg) to animals with modeled Parkinson's syndrome considerably improved their survival and the main diagnostic and nosological parameters characterizing the state of locomotor functions. The preparation decreased animal mortality, rigidity, disturbances in dynamic muscular work and coordination of movements, and reduced oligokinesia. Experimental data confirm the involvement of mitochondrial enzyme complex I dysfunction in the pathogenesis of the disease and showed the possibility of by-passing this site of the respiratory chain with Extralife.

Effect of ubiquinone-10 and succinic acid on functional characteristics of erythrocytes in rats with epinephrine toxemia.

Prophylactic dietary intake of synthetic ubiquinone-10, succinic acid, or mixture of these substances prevented disturbances in aggregation and electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes and inhibited lipid peroxidation in cells of rats with experimental epinephrine-induced toxemia.