title: Effect of mersalyl on mitochondrial Mg++ flux.
abstract: The mercurial mersalyl has little effect either on rapid Mg++ binding by isolated rat liver mitochondria or on the total Mg++ content of these organelles measured after 0.75 min of incubation at 20 degrees C. The data do not support the previous suggestion that the increased permeability to K+ of mitochondria treated with mersalyl results from release of endogenous Mg++. An increased pH-dependence of unidirectional Mg++ flux into respiring rat liver mitochondria is suggested to arise indirectly from inhibition by mersalyl of pH shifts associated with exchanges of endogenous phosphate. In addition, mersalyl appears to have a stimulatory effect on Mg++ influx. Mersalyl also increases the average rate of unidirectional efflux of endogenous Mg++. The stimulatory effects of mersalyl on Mg++ flux are similar to, although quantitatively less than, the previously reported effects of mersalyl on mitochondrial K+ flux.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008634:Mersalyl / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009941:Organomercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009941:Organomercury Compounds; D008634:Mersalyl; D008274:Magnesium