Premium
Biological significance of enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential in regenerating liver
Author(s) -
Nishihira Tomohiko,
Tanaka Junji,
Nishikawa Kastuhide,
Jikko Akira,
Taki Yoshiro,
Morimoto Taisuke,
Koizumi Kenji,
Kamiyama Yasuo,
Ozawa Kazue,
Tobe Takayoshi
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840060211
Subject(s) - membrane potential , valinomycin , absorbance , mitochondrion , inner mitochondrial membrane , oxidative phosphorylation , biochemistry , membrane , chemistry , biophysics , biology , chromatography
Liver mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed during regeneration following partial hepatectomy in rabbits. Absorbance change of safranine O per milligram of mitochondrial protein was used to evaluate mitochondrial membrane potential. Absorbance change was calibrated to the membrane potential in millivolts produced by valinomycin‐induced potassium diffusion potential. At 24 hr after hepatectomy, absorbance change of safranine O per milligram of mitochondrial protein increased from 15.0 ± 2.2 × 10 −3 to 37.4 ± 3.3 × 10 −3 per mg (p < 0.005). This represents a mitochondrial membrane potential increase from 77.0 ± 4.6 to 124.4 ± 6.7 mV. Phosphorylative activity increased from 59.9 ±5.0 to 106.1 ± 7.4 nmoles ATP synthesized per mg per min (p < 0.005). The enhancement of phosphorylative activity was closely linked to the elevation in liver mitochondrial membrane potential (r = 0.77, p < 0.005). We suggest that elevation of mitochondrial membrane potential, coupled with enhanced oxidative and phosphorylative activities, plays an important role in the regeneration process following hepatectomy.