Premium
Mitochondrial Damage in Aging and Apoptosis
Author(s) -
SASTRE JUAN,
BORRÁS CONSUELO,
GARCÍASALA DAVID,
LLORET ANA,
PALLARDÓ FEDERICO V.,
VIÑA JOSÉ
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02114.x
Subject(s) - apoptosis , mitochondrion , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , biochemistry
Mitochondria are essential to cellular aging, and free radical production by mitochondria is increased with aging. The rate of oxidant production by mitochondria correlates inversely with maximal life span of species. In many species, females live longer than males. We report that mitochondrial oxidant production by females is significantly lower than that of males. However, mitochondria from ovariectomized females have a similar oxidant production as those of males. Thus, gender difference in life span can be explained, at least in part, by different oxidant generation by mitochondria. Administration of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, or a Ginkgo biloba extract, protects against age‐associated oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA, oxidation of glutathione, and other signs of oxidative damage to mitochondria.