title: Characterization of mitochondrial respiratory chain energetics in the vestibular nucleus complex.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Despite having very high neuronal firing rates, the VNC does not have unusually high mitochondrial activity in vitro. This study is the first in which functionally active mitochondria from the hindbrain have been isolated and characterized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Neurons in the vestibular nucleus complex (VNC) have exceptionally high spontaneous firing rates. Neuronal mitochondria generate adenosine triphosphate critical for maintaining the membrane potentials required for axon firing. We therefore hypothesized a high rate of mitochondrial activity in the VNC.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test this hypothesis, we compared mitochondrial activity in the VNC with mitochondrial activity from another area of the hindbrain, the cerebellum. Mitochondrial respiratory activity was assessed by measuring oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial respiratory enzyme complex activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assay results were not significantly different in the VNC compared to those obtained with the cerebellum or with rat brain mitochondria in previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. john.ashton@stonebow.otaga.ac.nz
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: Amirala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalessi
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.forename: Ivan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sammut
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Darlington
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000378:metabolism; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II / Q000378:metabolism; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000378:metabolism; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III