title: Dimethyl sulfoxide elicited increase in cytochrome oxidase activity in rat liver mitochondria in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: A single intraperitoneal injection of dimethyl sulfoxide (275 mg/100 g body wt.) to rats stimulated cytochrome oxidase activity in liver mitochondria 2-5-fold. The enzyme activity remained at this level for as long as 5 days post-injection. There was however only 10.5% increase in the content of cytochromes a and a3 (as determined spectrophotometrically) in the same period in response to DMSO injection. The addition of either DMSO or dimethyl sulfate (a metabolite of DMSO) to isolated liver mitochondria also caused 2-3-fold increase in cytochrome oxidase activity. The results indicate that enhancement in cytochrome oxidase activity in liver mitochondria after administration of DMSO to rats is on account of activation of cytochrome oxidase caused by structural alterations in mitochondrial membranes rather than de novo synthesis of cytochrome oxidase.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, India.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Chetty
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pradhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide