t-Butylhydroperoxide-induced Ca2+ efflux from liver mitochondria in the presence of physiological concentrations of Mg2+ and ATP.

Isolated rat liver mitochondria, energized either by succinate oxidation or by ATP hydrolysis, present a transient increase in the rate of Ca2+ efflux concomitant to NAD(P)H oxidation by hydroperoxides when suspended in a medium containing 3 mM ATP, 4 mM Mg2+ and acetate as permeant anion. This is paralleled by an increase in the steady-state concentration of extramitochondrial Ca2+, a small decrease in delta psi and an increase in the rate of respiration and mitochondrial swelling. With the exception of mitochondrial swelling all other events were found to be reversible. If Ca2+ cycling was prevented by ruthenium red, the changes in delta psi, the rate of respiration and the extent of mitochondrial swelling were significantly diminished. In addition, there was no significant decrease in the content of mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides. Mitochondrial coupling was preserved after a cycle of Ca2+ release and re-uptake under these experimental conditions. It is concluded that hydroperoxide-induced Ca2+ efflux from intact mitochondria is related to the redox state of pyridine nucleotides.