title: Functional efficiency of mitochondrial membrane of rats with hepatic chronic iron overload.
abstract: The effect of in vivo hepatic iron overload, induced by two different amounts of iron, on the energy-transducing efficiency of the mitochondrial membrane has been examined. It has been found that when the epatic iron concentration is up to a threshold value mitochondria present an anomalous membrane potential. Addition of oligomycin fully restitutes it. A low content of intramitochondrial K+ is connected with this pathological condition. A relative lack of antioxidant capability is parallely exhibited by these mitochondria. A possible involvement of lipid peroxidation process in vivo in causing the membrane potential drop and the net efflux of intramitochondrial K+ is suggested.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D005942:Gluconates / Q000506:poisoning*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012806:Siderosis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005942:Gluconates; C043193:ferlixit; D007501:Iron; D011188:Potassium