Changes in mitochondrial activity caused by ammonium salts and the protective effect of carnitine.
Ammonium salts added to isolated rat liver mitochondria deviate alpha-ketoglutarate to glutamate synthesis, thus decreasing its availability as respiratory substrate. As a consequence a decrease of respiratory rate is observed which is paralleled by progressive mitochondrial swelling. It was demonstrated that L-carnitine may abolish this swelling thus improving structural and metabolic state of mitochondria.
Bellei
M
M
Institute of General Pathology, Modena, Italy.
Battelli
D
D
Guarriero
D M
DM
Muscatello
U
U
DiLisa
F
F
Siliprandi
N
N
Bobyleva-Guarriero
V
V
D000085:Acetates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000085:Acetates; D005971:Glutamates; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; C018824:ammonium acetate; D002331:Carnitine