Normal brain mitochondrial respiration in adult mice lacking cellular prion protein.
Cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) gene (Prnp) null mice (Prnp0/0) show higher sensitivity to seizures, enhanced brain oxidative stress, and their neurons exhibit higher excitability "in vitro". Mitochondrial respiration is a useful parameter for the determination of cellular metabolic rate and it is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present study, we investigated the mitochondrial function of different brain areas of Prnp0/0 adult mice and then compared this to normal control animals. Baseline mitochondrial respiration (stages 3 and 4), respiratory control ratio (RCR) and membrane potential were evaluated in the neocortex, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. No differences in these parameters were detected between Prnp0/0 and wild-type mice. Thus, we concluded that baseline mitochondrial respiration might not be directly related with the higher oxidative stress previously observed in brains from Prnp0/0 mice.
Lobão-Soares
Bruno
B
Departamento de Neurologia, Psiquiatria e Psicologia Medica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Bianchin
Marino Muxfeldt
MM
Linhares
Marcelo Neves
MN
Carqueja
Cristiane Lima
CL
Tasca
Carla Inês
CI
Souza
Márcia
M
Marques
Wilson
W
Brentani
Ricardo
R
Martins
Vilma R
VR
Sakamoto
Américo C
AC
Carlotti
Carlos Gilberto
CG
Walz
Roger
R
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D012119:Respiration; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
D018621:PrPC Proteins