title: Modulation of hepatic mitochondrial energy efficiency with age.
abstract: This study was designed to examine the effect of youth-adulthood transition on hepatic mitochondrial energy efficiency. The changes in basal and palmitate-induced proton leak, which contribute to mitochondrial efficiency, were evaluated in mitochondria isolated from the liver of young and adult rats. Alterations in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and aconitase specific activities, and in adenine nucleotide translocator content were also assessed. There was no difference in basal proton leak or thermodynamic coupling and efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in liver mitochondria between the two rat groups. On the other hand, palmitate-induced proton leak increased significantly in adult rats. The function of this uncoupling could be avoidance of elevated formation of reactive oxygen species, which are known to accelerate ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Environmental Physiology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lionetti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crescenzo
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mollica
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tasso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barletta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liverini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iossa
mesh_terms: D000154:Aconitate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000226:Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases / Q000032:analysis; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019308:Palmitic Acid; D000226:Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase; D010100:Oxygen