MORPHOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF DOG HEART MITOCHONDRIA AFTER SHORT PERIODS OF ISCHEMIA

The possible influence of hypoxia on the structure and lipid composition of the mitochondrial membrane was investigated. Myocardial ischemia with a duration of 10 and 20 minutes was induced in dogs by the ligation of branches of the anterior descending coronary artery. The degree of ischemia produced did not influence the ultrastructure of the isolated mitochondria, the oxygen consumption, the cytochrome oxidase activity, or the relative amount of protein, cholesterol, triglycerides and total phospholipids. In spite of these findings, changes were observed within the phospholipid fraction with a lowering of the percentage of cardiolipin and lysolecithin. © 1968.