OXIDATIVE DAMAGE TO MITOCHONDRIA AND PROTECTION BY EBSELEN AND OTHER ANTIOXIDANTS

Iron/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in liver mitochondria isolated from normal and glutathione-depleted rats was monitored by low-level chemiluminescence and by accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Antioxidant capacity was assessed by the duration of the lag phase preceding the onset of active peroxidation. The lag phases in state 4 and in the presence of uncouplers were similar, but shorter in the presence of ADP (state 3). In glutathione-depleted rats the lag periods were less than those in normal mitochondria. A biphasic pattern of loss of membrane α-tocopherol was typical in state 4 with about 55% remaining after 40 min, while in presence of ADP there was a steady and rapid loss to about 30% of the initial level. Synthetic antioxidants such as ebselen or its glutathione adduct protected mitochondrial membranes against peroxidative reactions. There was a 5-fold increase in the lag phase with 1 μM ebselen in state 4 (lag doubling concentration, 0.4 μM) and a significantly lower rate of loss of α-tocopherol with about 90% of the initial level still remaining after 40 min. Likewise, the lag doubling concentrations were 0.04 μM for diethyldithiocarbamate, 0.3 μM for 5-hydroxyindole, 10 μM for dihydroxyphenylalanine and serotonin, and about 40 μM for epinephrine and norepinephrine. © 1990.