N-acetylcysteine protects against age-related decline of oxidative phosphorylation in liver mitochondria.
Since it has been proposed that oxygen radical inactivation of key enzymes plays a critical role in cell aging, we have investigated the effects of a thiolic free radical scavenger on the oxidative phosphorylation enzymes of liver mitochondria from female OF-1 mice. At 48 weeks of age a control group was fed standard food pellets and another group received pellets containing 0.3% (w/w) of N-acetylcysteine. A 24-week treatment resulted in a significant increase in the specific activities of complex I, IV and V in the hepatic mitochondria of the N-acetylcysteine-treated animals as compared to aged controls.
Miquel
J
J
Instituto de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alicante, Spain.
Ferrándiz
M L
ML
De Juan
E
E
Sevila
I
I
Martínez
M
M
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D051379:Mice; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D000111:Acetylcysteine