REDUCED ANTIOXIDATIVE CAPACITY IN LIVER-MITOCHONDRIA FROM BILE-DUCT LIGATED RATS

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidative mechanisms were investigated in Liver mitochondria from bile duct ligated rats (BDL rats) and correlated with the activity of enzyme complexes of the electron transport chain. In comparison to pair-fed control rats, BDL rats had increased concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TEARS) per gram of liver and per milligram of mitochondrial protein 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery. The hepatic glutathione (GSH) content was decreased in EDL rats 28 days after surgery when expressed per gram of Liver but equal between EDL and control rats when expressed per liver. The mitochondrial GSH content was decreased in BDL rats by 20% to 33% from day 7 after surgery, The concentrations of ubiquinone-9 and ubiquinone-10, substances involved in electron transport and efficient antioxidants, were both decreased in BDL rats 14 and 28 days after surgery per gram of liver and per milligram of mitochondrial protein. When expressed per liver, ubiquinone-9 was decreased in BDL rats from day 7 after surgery. In comparison with controls, the decrease in total mitochondrial ubiquinone content in BDL rats averaged 52% 14 days and 38% 28 days after surgery, The activity of the succinate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase (complexes II and III of the electron transport chain) was decreased in EDL rats at days 7, 14, and 28 after surgery, and the activity of the ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase (complex IV) was reduced at 14 and 28 days after surgery. The mitochondrial concentration of TEARS showed a negative and the concentrations of GSH and ubiquinone a positive correlation with the activity of the succinate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase, We conclude that the mitochondrial concentration of antioxidants such as GSH and ubiquinone decreases in BDL rats, whereas the concentration of Lipid peroxidation products increases. Hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction in BDL rats may at least partially result from oxidative damage to mitochondrial lipids and/or proteins.