title: Structural and functional alterations in mitochondrial membrane in picrotoxin-induced epileptic rat brain.
abstract: Mitochondrial function is a key determinant of both excitability and viability of neurons. Present studies were carried out to decipher cerebral mitochondrial oxidative energy metabolism and membrane function in the chronic condition of generalized seizures induced by picrotoxin (PTX) in rats. PTX-induced convulsions resulted in decreased respiration rates (14-41%) with glutamate, pyruvate + malate, and succinate as substrate. The ADP phosphorylation rates were drastically reduced by 44-65%. An opposite trend was observed with ascorbate + N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine [corrected] (TMPD) as substrate. In general, uncoupling of the mitochondrial electron transport was observed after PTX treatment. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities were decreased by 20-80%; also, there was significant reduction in cytochrome b content after PTX treatment, while the F(o)F(1) ATPase (complex V) activity increased in basal and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)-stimulated condition, indicating increased membrane fragility. The substrate kinetics analysis had shown that K(m) and V(max) of the higher affinity kinetic component of ATPase increased significantly by 1.2- to 1.4-fold in epileptic condition. Temperature kinetic analysis revealed 1.2-fold increase in energies of activation with decreased transition temperature. The total phospholipid (TPL) and cholesterol (CHL) contents decreased significantly with lowering of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylserine (PS), while lysophospholipid (lyso), sphingomyelin (SPM), and phosphatidylcholine components were found to be elevated. Brain mitochondrial membrane was somewhat more fluidized in epileptic animals. Possible consequences of mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) dysfunction are discussed. In conclusion, impairment of MRC function along with structural alterations suggests novel pathophysiological mechanisms important for chronic epileptic condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390 002, Gujarat, India. munjalres@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Munjal M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Surendra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Katyare
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D003292:Convulsants; D003580:Cytochromes / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000502:physiology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010852:Picrotoxin; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D003580:Cytochromes; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases; D010852:Picrotoxin