[CA²âº ACCUMULATION IN ISOLATED RAT HEART MITOCHONDRIA UNDER MAINTENANCE OF MITOCHONDRIAL POTENTIAL].

It is known that mitochondria can accumulate calcium, which regulates energy metabolism and cell death. About 90% of energy of cardiomyocytes is synthesized in mitochondria. Heart cells are also affected by the rapid changes in the Ca²âº concentration in the cytoplasm. Therefore, mitochondrial Ca²âº-accumulation ability is crucial. The aim of our work was to study the accumulation of Ca²âº in isolated rat heart mitochondria in the presence of mitochondrial potential and different extramitochondrial Ca²âº concentrations. Isolated organelles were loaded with fluorescent dye Fluo-4 AM (2.5 µmol/l) at a temperature of 26°C for 30 min. It has been revealed that under these conditions high mitochondrial potential was maintained sufficiently, which is necessary for the functioning of the calcium transporting system in organelles. We established that mitochondria have a limited ability to store ionized calcium, as addition of Ca²âº ion in concentrations of 10, 20, 50 µmol/l ensures a certain level of accumulation in organelles with further fluorescent signal growth cessation. Addition of 100 µmol/Ca²âº to isolated mitochondria resulted in a significant increase in fluorescence intensity (46% in the fifth minute, compared to the fluorescence when 20 µmol/l Ca²âº was added) and likely to activation of cation release. It was shown that ruthenium red (10⁻5 mol/l), an inhibitor of Ca²âº-uniporter, prevented accumulation of calcium ions in organelles by 89%, in the presence of 100 µmol/ Ca²âº. It was clearly seen that heart mitochondria require Mg²âº-ATP complex (3 mmol/l) to accumulate Ca²âº, likely to maintain the inner membrane potential, activity of Ca²âº uniporter and energetic processes in organelles. Thus, the process of Ca²âº accumulation in rat heart mitochondria requires the maintenance of mitochondrial potential, activity of Ca²âº-uniporter, depends on extramitochondrial Ca²âº concentration and presence of Mg²âº-ATP complex.

[Effect of hydrogen sulfide donor NaHs on the functional state of the respiratory chain of the rat heart mitochondria].

In experiments on mitochondria isolated from the heart tissue of adult rats we studied the effects of a donor of hydrogen sulfide, NaHS, on the respiratory chain of the organelles. We found that NaHS (10(-9)-10(-6) mol/l) caused a dose-dependent decrease in the rate of oxygen consumption in the presence of succinate and ADP (state 3 to Chance), and in the absence of ADP (state 4). The decrease in the rate of oxygen consumption in a concentration NaHS 10(-9) mol/l and 10(-8) mol/l associated with an increased conjugation of oxidation and phosphorylation, as evidenced by the increase in the respiratory control, the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation (ADP/O) is not changed. Our studies suggest a protective effect of hydrogen sulfide donor on the functional state of the mitochondria. To elucidate of other the mechanisms of the protective action H2S we also investigated the effect of hydrogen sulfide donor on the mitochondrial swelling. It was found that NaHS in the range of concentration 10(-12) - 10(-4) mol/l influences the level of mitochondria swelling of the rats heart in the dose-dependent manner. It was also shown that when the concentration of Ca2+ 1 nmol/mg protein in the medium, under the action of hydrogen sulfide in the donor concentration range 10(-12) - 10(-8) mol/l, there was a moderate swelling of rats heart mitochondria. Under the action of NaHS at a concentration of 10(-9) mol/l it was observed swelling of the mitochondria, the maximum change in the level of which was 11%. Inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channels (K(ATP) channels) 5-hydroxydecanoate (10(-4) mol/l) partially reduced the mitochondrial swelling in the presence of NaHS (10(-9) mol/l), which may indicate the activation of K(ATP) channels. Our studies point for possible involvement of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels in implementation of the mechanisms of H2S.

[New fluorine-containing openers of ATP-sensitive potassium channels flokalin and tioflokalin inhibit calcium-induced mitochondrial pore opening in rat hearts].

In experiments in vitro on the mitochondria isolated from the rat's heart we studied the effects of the openers of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)-channels), flocalin and tioflocalin, on the calcium-induced mitochondrial pore (MPTP) opening. Flocalin and tioflocalin caused moderate Ca(2+)-independent mitochondria swelling, which was prevented by a specific inhibitor of 5-hydroxydecanoate. This allowed to identify these compounds as mitochondrial K(ATP)-channels openers. We found that concentration-dependent inhibitory effects (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) of flocalin (with IC50 = 50 microM) and tioflocalin (with IC50 = 2,7 microM) on Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial swelling (MPTP opening) in the heart characterized more powerful cardioprotective action of the latter. It was shown that the administration of these compounds in experiments in vivo decreased the sensitivity of the MPTP opening to Ca2+. Thus, under physiological conditions the activators K(ATP)-channels probably provide the membrane-stabilizing effects, thereby effectively increasing the organelles resistance to Ca2+, an inductor of MPTP. The results obtained allowed to characterize the role of the compound studied as cardioprotectors and regulators of the MPTP formation in the heart, indicated their anti-ischemic and anti-apoptotic effects that can be used in order to correct the mitochondrial dysfunction under pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system.

[The effect of hydrogen sulfide on contractile activity of the vascular smooth muscles in rats].

The effect of endogenous and exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on contractile activity of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) was studied. The introduction of substrate synthesis H2S L-cysteine and its donor NaHS in vitro caused concentration-dependent relaxation of VSM of aorta and portal vein. Low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide donor (10(-5) mol/L) caused vasoconstriction of both types of the vessels. It was shown that the reaction of relaxation of VSM in response to NaHS is independent from endothelium. It was revealed that VSM of portal vein are more sensitive to the effects of H2S than VSM of aorta. Removing of aorta periadventitial adipose tissue showed no relaxation reply to the hydrogen sulfide donor NaHS in 70% of experiments. Some of the cellular mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide action were established, namely relaxation of aorta is depended on K(ATP) channel activation. This is manifested by a lack of relaxation of the aortic VSM due to K(ATP) channel inhibitor glibenclamide.

[Hydrogen sulfide inhibits Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in adult and old rat heart].

In experiments in vivo and in vitro on the mitochondria isolated from adult and old rat hearts, we studied the effects of a donor of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), NaHS, and H2S biosynthesis substrate, L-cysteine, on the sensitivity of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening to its natural inductor, Ca(2+). We found that NaHS (10(-12) to 10(-4) mol/l) influenced mitochondrial swelling in a concentration-dependent manner. It was also demonstrated that the addition of NaHS (10(-12) to 10(-8) mol/l) to the calcium-free medium resulted in moderate a swelling of mitochondria from both adult and old rat hearts. At 10(-10) mol/l NaHS, the maximal values of the mitochondrial swelling observed in both adult and old hearts were 11 and 15 ,%, respectively. A specific inhibitor of KATP channels, 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD; 10(-4) mol/l) decreased the mitochondrial swelling in the presence of NaHS (10)-10) mol/l), which can be indicative of the contribution of these channels to the calcium-independent conductance of the mitochondrial membranes in the rat hearts. The H2S donor NaHS used in physiological concentrations (10(-6), 10(-5) and 5 10(-5) mol/l) exerted the inhibiting effect on the Ca(2+)-induced mPTP opening in adult hearts (corresponding values of such effect were 31, 76, and 77%, respectively), while in old hearts the protector effect of NaHS was observed only at its concentration of 10(-5) mol/l. Therefore, the donor of H2S used in the tested concentrations (10(-12) to 10(-4) mol/l) exerted ambiguous effect on the mitochondrial swelling: low concentrations of NaHS (10(-12) to 10(-8) mol/l) increased the mitochondrial swelling, while its physiological concentrations (10(-6) to 5 10(-5) mol/l) exerted the protective effect on Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial swelling in adult and old hearts. Pre-incubation of isolated mitochondria with 5-HD (10(-4) mol/l) resulted in a decrease in the protective effect evoked by NaHS (10(-5) mol/l) on Ca(2+)-induced mPTP opening, which is indicative of the possible involvement of mitochondrial KATP-channels in the H2S-dependent inhibition of mPTP formation in both adult and old rat hearts. In experiments in vivo, single intraperitoneal injections of both NaHS (10(4) mol/kg) and L-cysteine ((10(-3) mol/kg) resulted in a decrease in the sensitivity of mPTP to its inductor Ca(2+) in adult and old rat hearts. The action of L-cysteine, as compared with that of NaHS, was more effective in prevention of Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial swelling. We observed a rise in Ca(2+) concentration by one order of magnitude, which evoked the mitochondrial swelling in adult and old hearts. In experiments in vivo in which we used a specific blocker ofcystathionine-g-lyase, propargylglycine (10(-4) mol/kg) that is involved in the synthesis of H2S, we observed an increase in the sensitivity of mPTP opening in old hearts because of a decrease in the threshold Ca(2+) concentration required for mitochondrial swelling by two orders of magnitude. We demonstrate the involvement of endogenous H2S in the control of mPTP formation in adult and old hearts. Our studies are indicative of the involvement of H2S in modulation of changes in the permeability of mitochondrial membranes, which can be an important regulatory factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases.