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CYTOCHROMES IN BRAIN MITOCHONDRIA FROM LAMBS WITH ENZOOTIC ATAXIA
Author(s) -
Smith R. M.,
Osbornewhite W. S.,
Odell B. L.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1976.tb06998.x
Subject(s) - cytochrome c oxidase , mitochondrion , ataxia , cytochrome , biochemistry , medicine , cytochrome c , oxidase test , chemistry , biology , endocrinology , enzyme , neuroscience
Mitochondria from the cerebral cortex of untreated lambs from areas in which enzootic ataxia occurred showed a lower content of haem a (from cytochromes a and a 3) than mitochondria from control lambs with adequate copper but the haems of cytochromcs b2 c1 and c were not depleted. Cytochrome oxidase activity was closely correlated with the content of haem a (P<0.001) but there was no correlation with total mitochondrial copper which was always present in molar exccss of haem a. It is concluded that the lowered cytochrome oxidase activity in mitochondria from untreated lambs is immediately attributable to depletion of haem a. In clinically ataxic lambs that showed degradation of myelin in thc spinal cord, brain cytochrome oxidase was depressed by no more t han 60%. Arguments are advanced that this depletion was not sufficiently severe to have led to respiratory constraint