Multiple sites of inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by local anesthetics

Distinct Cellular Tools of Mild Hyperthermia-Induced Acquired Stress Tolerance in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Mild stress could help cells to survive more severe environmental or pathophysiological conditions. In the current study, we investigated the cellular mechanisms which contribute to the development of stress tolerance upon a prolonged (0-12 h) fever-like (40 °C) or a moderate (42.5 °C) hyperthermia in mammalian Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Our results indicate that mild heat triggers a distinct, dose-dependent remodeling of the cellular lipidome followed by the expression of heat shock proteins only at higher heat dosages. A significant elevation in the relative concentration of saturated membrane lipid species and specific lysophosphatidylinositol and sphingolipid species suggests prompt membrane microdomain reorganization and an overall membrane rigidification in response to the fluidizing heat in a time-dependent manner. RNAseq experiments reveal that mild heat initiates endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signaling cascades resulting in lipid rearrangement and ultimately in an elevated resistance against membrane fluidization by benzyl alcohol. To protect cells against lethal, protein-denaturing high temperatures, the classical heat shock protein response was required. The different layers of stress response elicited by different heat dosages highlight the capability of cells to utilize multiple tools to gain resistance against or to survive lethal stress conditions.

The prognostic power of 18F-FDG PET/CT extends to estimating systemic treatment response duration in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients

BACKGROUND

We aimed to test whether the prognostic value of 18 F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) extends to the estimation of systemic treatment response duration.

METHODS

mCRPC patients submitted to FDG-PET/CT in four Italian centers from 2005 to 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical and biochemical data at the time of imaging were collected, and SUV max of the hottest lesion, total metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated. The correlation between PET- and biochemical-derived parameters with Overall Survival (OS) was analysed. The prediction of treatment response duration was assessed in the subgroup submitted to FDG-PET/CT in the six months preceding Chemotherapy (namely Docetaxel or Cabazitaxel, 24 patients) or Androgen-Receptor Targeted Agents (ARTA, namely Abiraterone or Enzalutamide, 20 patients) administration.

RESULTS

We enrolled 114 mCRPC patients followed-up for a median interval lasting 15 months. While at univariate analysis, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), MTV, and TLG were associated with OS, at the multivariate Cox regression analysis, the sole MTV could independently predict OS (p < 0.0001). In the subgroup submitted to FDG-PET/CT before the systemic treatment initiation, PSA and TLG could also predict treatment response duration independently (p < 0.05). Of note, while PSA could not indicate the best treatment choice, lower TLG was associated with higher success rates for ARTA but had no impact on chemotherapy efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

FDG-PET/CT's prognostic value extends to predicting treatment response duration in mCRPC, thus potentially guiding the systemic treatment selection.

Long-term outcomes of prostate radiotherapy for newly-diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

In patients presenting with metastatic prostate cancer, the role of local therapy is evolving. Two recently reported large-scale randomized trials suggest that radiotherapy (RT) directed at the prostate improves overall survival (OS) in patients with low metastatic burden. We reviewed the experience of prostate RT in this setting at our center.

METHODS

The study population consisted of men with newly-diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) referred to a comprehensive cancer center between 2005 and 2015 and treated initially with androgen deprivation therapy. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they received (1) prostate RT with biological effective dose (BED) at least that of a course of 40 Gy in 15 fractions or (2) no prostate RT. The association between receipt of prostate RT and OS was studied. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with OS.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 410 patients, of whom 128 received prostate RT. Median follow-up 61.0 months. On univariate analysis, receipt of prostate RT was associated with improved OS (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45-0.77, p = 0.0001). Median OS in those patients receiving prostate RT was 47.4 months versus 26.3 months in those not receiving prostate RT. In a multivariate Cox model, receipt of prostate RT remained associated with improved OS (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.94, p = 0.02). In those treated with prostate RT, increasing BED was also associated with improved OS (HR 0.87 per 10 Gy increase, 95% CI 0.76-0.99, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

This cohort represents the largest single-center experience of primary tumor-directed RT in mHSPC reported to date. In this population, receipt of prostate RT was associated with improved OS and the magnitude of the OS benefit was clinically significant. The possibility of an RT dose-response gradient in this setting merits further study.

Cytoreductive treatment strategies for de novo metastatic prostate cancer

In the past decade, a revolution in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer has occurred with the advent of novel hormonal agents and life-prolonging chemotherapy regimens in combination with standard androgen-deprivation therapy. Notwithstanding, the use of systemic therapy alone can result in a castrate-resistant state; therefore, increasing focus is being placed on the additional survival benefits that could potentially be achieved with local cytoreductive and/or metastasis-directed therapies. Local treatment of the primary tumour with the established modalities of radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy has been explored in this context, and the use of novel minimally invasive ablative therapies has been proposed. In addition, evidence of the potential clinical benefits of metastasis-directed therapy with ionizing radiation (primarily stereotactic ablative radiotherapy) is accumulating. Herein, we summarize the pathobiological rationale for local cytoreduction and the potentially systemic immunological responses to radiotherapy and ablative therapies in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. We also discuss the current evidence base for a cytoreductive strategy, including metastasis-directed therapy, in the current era of sequential multimodal therapy incorporating novel treatments. Finally, we outline further research questions relating to this complex and evolving treatment landscape.

The Mechanisms Underlying Lipid Resuscitation Therapy

The experimental use of lipid emulsion for local anesthetic toxicity was originally identified in 1998. It was then translated to clinical practice in 2006 and expanded to drugs other than local anesthetics in 2008. Our understanding of lipid resuscitation therapy has progressed considerably since the previous update from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, and the scientific evidence has coalesced around specific discrete mechanisms. Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy provides a multimodal resuscitation benefit that includes both scavenging (eg, the lipid shuttle) and nonscavenging components. The intravascular lipid compartment scavenges drug from organs susceptible to toxicity and accelerates redistribution to organs where drug (eg, bupivacaine) is stored, detoxified, and later excreted. In addition, lipid exerts nonscavenging effects that include postconditioning (via activation of prosurvival kinases) along with cardiotonic and vasoconstrictive benefits. These effects protect tissue from ischemic damage and increase tissue perfusion during recovery from toxicity. Other mechanisms have diminished in favor based on lack of evidence; these include direct effects on channel currents (eg, calcium) and mass-effect overpowering a block in mitochondrial metabolism. In this narrative review, we discuss these proposed mechanisms and address questions left to answer in the field. Further work is needed, but the field has made considerable strides towards understanding the mechanisms.

Benzyl alcohol protects against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity by inhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes but causes mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death at higher doses

Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is a serious public health problem in western countries. Current treatment options for APAP poisoning are limited and novel therapeutic intervention strategies are needed. A recent publication suggested that benzyl alcohol (BA) protects against APAP hepatotoxicity and could serve as a promising antidote for APAP poisoning. To assess the protective mechanisms of BA, C56Bl/6J mice were treated with 400 mg/kg APAP and/or 270 mg/kg BA. APAP alone caused extensive liver injury at 6 h and 24 h post-APAP. This injury was attenuated by BA co-treatment. Assessment of protein adduct formation demonstrated that BA inhibits APAP metabolic activation. In support of this, in vitro experiments also showed that BA dose-dependently inhibits cytochrome P450 activities. Correlating with the hepatoprotection of BA, APAP-induced oxidant stress and mitochondrial dysfunction were reduced. Similar results were obtained in primary mouse hepatocytes. Interestingly, BA alone caused mitochondrial membrane potential loss and cell toxicity at high doses, and its protective effect could not be reproduced in primary human hepatocytes (PHH). We conclude that BA protects against APAP hepatotoxicity mainly by inhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes in mice. Considering its toxic effect and the loss of protection in PHH, BA is not a clinically useful treatment option for APAP overdose patient.

Ropivacaine- and bupivacaine-induced death of rabbit annulus fibrosus cells in vitro: involvement of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this study were to assess whether local anesthetics (LAs), such as ropivacaine and bupivacaine, could induce apoptosis of rabbit annulus fibrosus (AF) cells in vitro and further to explore the possible underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Rabbit AF cells at second passage were treated with saline solution and various concentrations of LAs. Apoptosis of AF cells were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Annexin V assays, Hoechst 33342 staining, and Caspase-3, -9 activity assays. The expression of apoptosis-related markers was detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western Blot. The JC-1 staining was used to evaluate the change of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Moreover, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined with fluorescent probe DCFH-DA.

RESULTS

The results of flow cytometry indicated that LAs could induce apoptosis of rabbit AF cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis was confirmed by cell morphology, condensed nuclei and activation of Caspase-3 and -9. In addition, the molecular data showed that LAs could significantly up-regulate the expression of Bax, accompanied by a significant down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, we also observed that LAs resulted in alteration of MMP and accumulation of intracellular ROS in AF cells. Blockade of ROS production by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) inhibited LAs-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that LAs in clinically relevant concentrations could induce apoptosis of rabbit AF cells in vitro, and the mitochondrial pathway was, at least in part, involved in the LAs-mediated apoptosis. Further investigations focusing on the potential cytotoxicity of LAs on IVD cells are needed.

Benzyl alcohol attenuates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in a Toll-like receptor-4-dependent pattern in mice

Acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure in industrialized countries. Understanding the mechanisms of APAP-induced liver injury as well as other forms of sterile liver injury is critical to improve the care of patients. Recent studies demonstrate that danger signaling and inflammasome activation play a role in APAP-induced injury. The aim of these investigations was to test the hypothesis that benzyl alcohol (BA) is a therapeutic agent that protects against APAP-induced liver injury by modulation of danger signaling. APAP-induced liver injury was dependent, in part, on Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) signaling. BA limited liver injury over a dose range of 135-540 μg/g body weight or when delivered as a pre-, concurrent, or post-APAP therapeutic. Furthermore, BA abrogated APAP-induced cytokines and chemokines as well as high-mobility group box 1 release. Moreover, BA prevented APAP-induced inflammasome signaling as determined by interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and caspase-1 cleavage in liver tissues. Interestingly, the protective effects of BA on limiting liver injury and inflammasome activation were dependent on TLR4 signaling, but not TLR2 or CD14. Cell-type-specific knockouts of TLR4 were utilized to further determine the protective mechanisms of BA. These studies found that TLR4 expression specifically in myeloid cells (LyzCre-tlr4-/-) were necessary for the protective effects of BA.

CONCLUSION

BA protects against APAP-induced acute liver injury and reduced inflammasome activation in a TLR4-dependent manner. BA may prove to be a useful adjunct in the treatment of APAP and other forms of sterile liver injury.

A guide to diagnosis and treatment of Leigh syndrome

Leigh syndrome is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, typically manifesting in infancy or early childhood. However, also late-onset cases have been reported. Since its first description by Denis Archibald Leigh in 1951, it has evolved from a postmortem diagnosis, strictly defined by histopathological observations, to a clinical entity with indicative laboratory and radiological findings. Hallmarks of the disease are symmetrical lesions in the basal ganglia or brain stem on MRI, and a clinical course with rapid deterioration of cognitive and motor functions. Examinations of fresh muscle tissue or cultured fibroblasts are important tools to establish a biochemical and genetic diagnosis. Numerous causative mutations in mitochondrial and nuclear genes, encoding components of the oxidative phosphorylation system have been described in the past years. Moreover, dysfunctions in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex or coenzyme Q10 metabolism may be associated with Leigh syndrome. To date, there is no cure for affected patients, and treatment options are mostly unsatisfactory. Here, we review the most important clinical aspects of Leigh syndrome, and discuss diagnostic steps as well as treatment options.

Effect of long-chain triglyceride lipid emulsion on bupivacaine-induced changes in electrophysiological parameters of rabbit Purkinje cells

Lipid emulsions are used in the reversal of local anesthetic toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular electrophysiological effects of long-chain triglyceride lipid emulsion (LCTE) on cardiac action potential characteristics and conduction disturbances induced by bupivacaine. Purkinje fibers were dissected from the left ventricle of New Zealand white rabbit hearts and superfused with either Tyrode's solution during 30 min (control group), with bupivacaine 10(-6) M, 10(-5) M, and 5.10(-5) M alone, or in the presence of LCTE 0.5%, in addition, LCTE at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% was perfused alone. Electrophysiological parameters were recorded using the conventional microelectrode technique (37 °C, 1 Hz frequency). Bupivacaine 5.10(-5) M-induced conduction blocks (8/8 preparations): LCTE 0.5% suppressed the bupivacaine 5.10(-5) M-induced conduction blocks (1/8 preparations). Exposure to bupivacaine 10(-6) M, 10(-5) M, and 5.10(-5) M resulted in a significant decrease in the maximal rate of depolarization (Vmax) (respectively, 25%, 55%, 75%; P < 0.002 vs. control group). In the presence of LCTE 0.5%, bupivacaine 10(-6) M did not significantly decreased Vmax (13%; P = 0.10 vs. control group). The decrease in Vmax resulting from bupivacaine 10(-5) M alone was significantly less in the presence of LCTE 0.5% (P < 0.01 vs. bupivacaine 10(-5) M alone). Exposure to bupivacaine 10(-6) M, 10(-5) M, and 5.10(-5) M alone or in the presence of LCTE 0.5% resulted in a significant decrease in action potential duration measured at 50% and 90% repolarization (APD50 and APD90; P < 0.01 vs. control group). LCTE inhibited the Purkinje fibers conduction blocks induced by bupivacaine. Moreover, LCTE 0.5% attenuates the decrease in Vmax induced by bupivacaine 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M.

Myocardial accumulation of bupivacaine and ropivacaine is associated with reversible effects on mitochondria and reduced myocardial function

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms of local anesthetic cardiac toxicity are still not completely understood. In this study, we analyzed whether concentrations of local anesthetics found in clinical toxicity affect myocardial mitochondrial structure and oxygen consumption.

METHODS

Guinea pig isolated heart Langendorff preparations were exposed to bupivacaine (3.0 and 7.5 μg/mL) and ropivacaine (3.6 and 9.0 μg/mL) for 10 minutes. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, the first derivative of left ventricular pressure (+dP/dt), electrocardiogram, and coronary flow were recorded. The local anesthetic tissue concentration was measured either immediately after local anesthetic exposure, or after 20- and 60-minute washout periods. In addition, electron microscopy of myocardial mitochondria was performed using a scoring system for structural damage of mitochondria. Cardiomyocyte cell culture was incubated with bupivacaine, and oxygen consumption ratio, extracellular acidification, and relative amounts of PGC-1α mRNA, a regulator of cellular energy metabolism, were determined.

RESULTS

Bupivacaine and ropivacaine induced reversible PR interval and QRS prolongation, and left ventricular pressure and +dP/dt reduction. Myocardial tissue concentration of local anesthetics was 3-fold the arterial concentration. Mitochondria showed a significant concentration-dependent morphological swelling after local anesthetic application. These changes were reversed by a 20-minute washout period for ropivacaine and by a 60-minute washout for bupivacaine. Bupivacaine reduced mitochondrial oxygen consumption and increased PGC-1α expression in neonatal cardiomyocyte cell cultures, whereas fatty acid metabolism remained unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

Bupivacaine and ropivacaine accumulate in the myocardium. Reversible local anesthetic-induced mitochondrial swelling occurs at concentrations that induce a negative inotropic effect. Bupivacaine reduces cellular metabolism, whereas this reduction is reversible by fatty acids. Interaction with mitochondria may contribute to the negative inotropic effect of local anesthetics.

In vivo comparison of the effects of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine on the pregnant rat myometrium using electrohysterogram

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The effect of local anesthetics on myometrial contractility during labor analgesia is debatable. We aimed to compare the effects of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine on rat uterine contractility in an in vivo setting.

METHODS

Electrical activities of 40 pregnant rat uteruses were recorded on electrohysterogram after dividing the rats into bupivacaine and levobupivacaine groups. Uterine contraction frequencies were recorded at each 5-min interval. The first 5-min recording was considered the control, which was immediately followed by intramyometrial administration of either bupivacaine or levobupivacaine. The recordings were continued for 30 min. The changes in frequencies at each time interval of the groups were compared with each other and the control recording.

RESULTS

The frequencies from both groups at each interval were lower than the control values, but not different between the groups. The frequencies of the bupivacaine group during the 5-10 min and 10-15 min intervals were lower than the control time interval, but no significant differences were present between the control and the other time intervals. However, no significant differences were found at any time interval for the levobupivacaine group.

CONCLUSION

Levobupivacaine led to less muscle relaxation compared to bupivacaine and may be a better option for labor analgesia and anesthesia considering uterine contractility.

Is cardiolipin the target of local anesthetic cardiotoxicity?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Local anesthetics are used broadly to prevent or reverse acute pain and treat symptoms of chronic pain. Local anesthetic-induced cardiotoxic reaction has been considered the accidental event without currently effective therapeutic drugs except for recently reported intralipid infusion whose possible mechanism of action is not well known.

CONTENTS

Cardiolipin, an anionic phospholipid, plays a key role in determining mitochondrial respiratory reaction, fatty acid metabolism and cellular apoptosis. Mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction is suggested as associated with local anesthetic cardiotoxicity, from an in vitro study report that the local anesthetic cardiotoxicity may be due to the strong electrostatic interaction of local anesthetics and cardiolipin in the mitochondria membrane, although there is a lack for experimental evidence. Herein we hypothesized that local anesthetic-cardiolipin interactions were the major determinant of local anesthetic-associated cardiotoxic reaction, established by means of theoretic and structural biological methods. This interacting model would give an insight on the underlying mechanism of local anesthetic cardiotoxicity and provide clues for further in depth research on designing preventive drugs for such inadvertent accidence in routine clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The interaction between local anesthetic and mitochondrial cardiolipin may be the underlying mechanism for cardiotoxicity affecting its energy metabolism and electrostatic status.

Potential therapeutic benefits of strategies directed to mitochondria

The mitochondrion is the most important organelle in determining continued cell survival and cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to many human maladies, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disease, and cancer. These mitochondria-related pathologies range from early infancy to senescence. The central premise of this review is that if mitochondrial abnormalities contribute to the pathological state, alleviating the mitochondrial dysfunction would contribute to attenuating the severity or progression of the disease. Therefore, this review will examine the role of mitochondria in the etiology and progression of several diseases and explore potential therapeutic benefits of targeting mitochondria in mitigating the disease processes. Indeed, recent advances in mitochondrial biology have led to selective targeting of drugs designed to modulate and manipulate mitochondrial function and genomics for therapeutic benefit. These approaches to treat mitochondrial dysfunction rationally could lead to selective protection of cells in different tissues and various disease states. However, most of these approaches are in their infancy.

Modulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics in the isolated Guinea pig beating heart by potassium and lidocaine cardioplegia: implications for cardioprotection

Mitochondria are damaged by cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury but can contribute to cardioprotection. We tested if hyperkalemic cardioplegia (CP) and lidocaine (LID) differently modulate mitochondrial (m) bioenergetics and protect hearts against I/R injury. Guinea pig hearts (n = 71) were perfused with Krebs Ringer's solution before perfusion for 1 minute just before ischemia with either CP (16 mM K) or LID (1 mM) or Krebs Ringer's (control, 4 mM K). The 1-minute perfusion period assured treatment during ischemia but not on reperfusion. Cardiac function, NADH, FAD, m[Ca], and superoxide (reactive oxygen species) were assessed at baseline, during the 1-minute perfusion, and continuously during I/R. During the brief perfusion before ischemia, CP and LID decreased reactive oxygen species and increased NADH without changing m[Ca]. Additionally, CP decreased FAD. During ischemia, NADH was higher and reactive oxygen species was lower after CP and LID, whereas m[Ca] was lower only after LID. On reperfusion, NADH and FAD were more normalized, and m[Ca] and reactive oxygen species remained lower after CP and LID. Better functional recovery and smaller infarct size after CP and LID were accompanied by better mitochondrial function. These results suggest that mitochondria may be implicated, directly or indirectly, in protection by CP and LID against I/R injury.

Target identification of drug induced mitochondrial toxicity using immunocapture based OXPHOS activity assays

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been shown to be a pharmacotoxicological response to a variety of currently-marketed drugs. In order to reduce attrition due to mitochondrial toxicity, high throughput-applicable screens are needed for early stage drug discovery. We describe, here, a set of immunocapture based assays to identify compounds that directly inhibit four of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes: I, II, IV, and V. Intra- and inter-assay variation were determined and specificity tested by using classical mitochondrial inhibitors. Twenty drugs, some with known mitochondrial toxicity and others with no known mitochondrial liability, were studied. Direct inhibition of one or more of the OXPHOS complexes was identified for many of the drugs. Novel information was obtained for several drugs including ones with previously unknown effects on oxidative phosphorylation. A major advantage of the immunocapture approach is that it can be used throughout drug screening from early compound evaluation to clinical trials.

Bupivacaine, but not lidocaine, disrupts cardiolipin-containing small biomimetic unilamellar liposomes

Inadvertent intravenous administration of bupivacaine, unlike that of lidocaine, is associated with significant cardiotoxicity. However, the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon is uncertain. High concentrations of cardiolipin, an anionic phospholipid, are found in the mitochondria membrane of cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that bupivacaine, but not lidocaine, interacts avidly with cardiolipin in the mitochondria membrane of cardiomyocytes and alters its integrity thereby accounting, in part, for cardiotoxicity. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to begin to address this issue by determining the effects of bupivacaine and lidocaine on permeability of cardiolipin-containing biomimetic small unilamellar liposomes. We found that bupivacaine, but not lidocaine, elicited a significant, concentration-dependent increase in carboxyfluorescein release from cardiolipin-containing small unilamellar liposomes (size, 165nm) composed of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (p<0.05). Both drugs had no significant effects on carboxyfluorescein release from liposomes devoid of cardiolipin (p>0.5). Collectively, these data indicate that bupivacaine, but not lidocaine, interacts avidly and selectively with biomimetic small unilamellar liposomes containing cardiolipin and disrupts their integrity. We suggest that these interactions underlie, in part, bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity.

Effect of the mitochondrial transition pore inhibitor, S-15176, on rat liver mitochondria: ATP synthase modulation and mitochondrial uncoupling induction

S-15176 is a new inhibitor of the permeability transition pore (PTP) which has been shown to display anti-ischemic properties. We show here that S-15176 prevented PTP, cytochrome c release and maintained mitochondrial membrane potential when low concentrations of S-15176 were used (not exceeding 50 nmol/mg protein). For higher concentrations S-15176 is able to collapse mitochondrial potential. This effect was reversed by the recoupling agent 6-ketocholestanol (6-KCh) suggesting that S-15176 has uncoupling properties. In addition, S-15176 is able to inhibit ATP synthase activity and to stimulate the hydrolytic activity of the enzyme but none of these effects appears to be related to its PTP inhibiting property. These data demonstrate that S-15176 interacts with several targets in mitochondria and these pharmacological properties should be considered in the examination of its health benefits as well as its potential cytotoxicity.

The effects of bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine on the contractility of rat myometrium

Local anesthetic agents are commonly used for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia. We determined the effects of bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine on the contractility of isolated pregnant rat uterine muscle strips. Uterine specimens were obtained from 18- to 21-day pregnant Wistar rats (n = 28). Myometrial strips were obtained from the uterine horns after removing the fetuses and non-uterine tissue, incubated in organ baths and contractions stimulated with oxytocin. When contractions became regular, strips were exposed to increasing concentrations of the study drugs. Mepivacaine (n = 8), ropivacaine (n = 10) and bupivacaine (n = 10) were used at cumulative doses from 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol/L. Two of the local anesthetics, bupivacaine most, ropivacaine least, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of uterine contractility. In contrast, mepivacaine significantly increased uterine contractility. Bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine were found to have no effect on frequency of uterine contractions. These results demonstrate that bupivacaine and ropivacaine may inhibit myometrium contractility.

Procaine-induced enhancement of fluid-phase endocytosis and inhibition of exocytosis in human skin fibroblasts

Local anaesthetics are often applied directly onto the skin, and for this reason the effect of some local anaesthetics upon morphology and cytoskeleton organisation in human skin fibroblasts was investigated. In this paper the authors report that procaine (p-aminobenzoic acid diethylamino-etyl ester hydrochloride) induced vacuolisation of cytoplasm and great enhancement of neutral red accumulation in human skin fibroblasts cultured in vitro. Procaine-induced vacuolisation of cell's cytoplasm was observed to be associated with the enhanced uptake and inhibited release of fluid taken by endocytosis. All these effects appeared fully reversible. The cell vacuolisation cannot be prevented by 3-methyadenine, brefeldine A, and cytochalasine D. On the other hand, nocodazole and caffeine prevent cytoplasm vacuolisation induced by procaine. These observations suggest that procaine-induced formation of great vacuoles is due to an impairment of membrane traffic between endosomes. The authors' results also demonstrate that neutral red uptake assay, if used as a cell viability test, must be interpreted with great caution.

A mutation in mitochondrial complex I increases ethanol sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans

BACKGROUND

The gene gas-1 encodes the 49-kDa subunit of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in Caenorhabditis elegans. A mutation in gas-1 profoundly increases sensitivity to ethanol and decreases complex I-dependent metabolism in mitochondria.

METHODS

Mitochondria were isolated from wild-type and gas-1 strains of C. elegans. The effects of ethanol on complex I-, II-, and III-dependent oxidative phosphorylation were measured for mitochondria from each strain. Reversibility of the effects of ethanol was determined by measuring oxidative phosphorylation after removal of mitochondria from 1.5 M ethanol. The effects of ethanol on mitochondrial structure were visualized with electron microscopy.

RESULTS

We found that ethanol inhibited complex I-, II-, and III-dependent oxidative phosphorylation in isolated wild-type mitochondria at concentrations that immobilize intact worms. It is important to note that the inhibitory effects of ethanol on mitochondria from either C. elegans or rat skeletal muscle were reversible even at molar concentrations. Complex I activity was lower in mitochondria from gas-1 animals than in mitochondria from wild-type animals at equal ethanol concentrations. Complex II activity was higher in gas-1 than in wild-type mitochondria at all concentrations of ethanol. No difference was seen between the strains in the sensitivity of complex III to ethanol.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in ethanol sensitivities between gas-1 and wild-type nematodes results solely from altered complex I function. At the respective concentrations of ethanol that immobilize whole animals, mitochondria from each strain of worms displayed identical rates of complex I-dependent state 3 respiration. We conclude that a threshold value of complex I activity controls the transition from mobility to immobility of C. elegans.

Effects of ropivacaine and bupivacaine on rabbit myocardial energetic metabolism and mitochondria oxidation

To compare the cardiotoxicity induced by ropivacaine and bupivacaine and to investigate the mechanism of cardiotoxicity, 24 mature New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into control group (group C), ropivacaine group (group R) and bupivacaine group (group B). Hearts were drawn out rapidly from the anesthetized animals and cardiac perfusion was performed immediately. Ropivacaine 500 ng/ml (group R) or bupivacaine 500 ng/ml (group B) was added to the perfusion solution. Ventricular myocardial ATP, ADP and AMP were measured with high performance liquid chromatogram. The ability of myocardial mitochondria oxidation to pyruvate or palmitoylcarnitine was detected with Clark electrode. Our results showed that myocardial ATP and ADP decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in group R and most significantly (P < 0.01) in group B as compared with group C. Myocardial ATP and ADP decreased most significantly (P < 0.01) in group B as compared with group R. The changes of myocardial AMP revealed significant difference among three groups. The changes of pyruvate oxidation exhibited no significant difference among the three groups. Palmitoylcarnitine oxidation decreased markedly (P < 0.05) in group R and most significantly (P < 0.01) in group B as compared with group C. The present study indicated that the inhibition of lipid substrate oxidation may be responsible for the cardiotoxicity induced by bupivacaine and ropivacaine. The cardiotoxicity induced by ropivacaine is far more less than bupivacaine.

Effect of local anesthetic ropivacaine on isolated rat liver mitochondria

Ropivacaine is a new long-acting aminoamide local anesthetic with a reduced systemic and cardiac toxicity. Since the latter seems to be related, at least partially, to an interference with mitochondrial energy transduction, the effect of ropivacaine on the metabolism of rat liver mitochondria was studied. Ropivacaine alone exhibited little effect on mitochondrial metabolism, whereas effects were strongly enhanced by tetraphenylboron (TPB-) anion. At low drug concentrations, state 4 respiration was stimulated and mitochondrial membrane potential collapsed. At higher concentrations, state 4 and uncoupled respiration were inhibited by impairment of electron transfer from NAD- and flavine adenine dinucleotide-linked substrates to the respiratory chain. The fact that TPB- increased drug effects indicated that stimulation of respiration was due to dissipation of the electrochemical proton gradient caused by its electrophoretic uptake, although a classical uncoupling mechanism cannot be excluded. The mechanism for the lower toxicity of ropivacaine in vivo was ascribed to low liposolubility leading to reduced access to the mitochondrial membrane, resulting in a minimal perturbation of mitochondrial metabolism.

Actions of amiodarone on mitochondrial ATPase and lactate dehydrogenase activities in guinea pig heart preparations

The effects of amiodarone on mitochondrial ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH: EC 1.1.1.27) activities were studied in guinea pig mitochondrial preparations in order to test the hypothesis that amiodarone exerts some of its effects as a result of multiple actions on membrane-bound enzymes and receptors. Amiodarone inhibited the ATPase activity in the range of 10 pM to 10 mM (n = 10) with IC50 values of 56.4 +/- 7.2 microM. However, although the inhibitory action was very significant (P < 0.0001, compared to the control) in the concentration range of 100 pM to 10 microM, the differences in individual enzyme responses showed very weak correlation with drug concentration. In this region, the inhibitory effects were almost constant at approximately 37%. Below 100 pM and above this range however, the concentration-response relationships were steep, reaching total inhibition at approximately 2.5 mM. Amiodarone also exerted concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on lactate dehydrogenase activity. However, over the effective inhibitory concentration range (5-95%) of 7.5 microM to 2.5 mM (n = 8) and IC50 value of 108 +/- 6 microM, its inhibitory potency was twofold weaker than that of its ATPase inhibition. We propose that these actions contribute, at least in part, to the mechanism(s) of some of the pharmacological actions of amiodarone.

Investigation of class I anti-arrhythmic drug actions on guinea-pig cardiac mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase activity

1. The effects of the Class I anti-arrhythmic drugs quinidine, procainamide, lidocaine, phenytoin and tocainide on mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase activity were compared in guinea-pig heart preparations. 2. All the tested drugs inhibited the enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent fashion, exhibiting varying profiles in their actions. Lidocaine exhibited inhibitory concentration 20% (IC20) and IC50 values of 0.52 +/- 0.02 mmol/L and 25.6 +/- 0.5 mmol/L, procainamide 6.0 +/- 0.2 mmol/L and 108 +/- 7.2 mmol/L, phenytoin 3.4 +/- 0.06 mumol/L and 0.34 +/- 0.02 mmol/L, quinidine 39.2 +/- 1.2 mumol/L and 9.8 +/- 0.8 mmol/L and tocainide 2.7 +/- 0.3 mmol/L and 44.6 +/- 2.5 mmol/L. 3. According to the IC50 values, this is the order of their inhibitory potencies: phenytoin > quinidine > lidocaine > tocainide > procainamide. This trend is in general agreement with the lipophilicity rank of the drugs. 4. It is concluded, therefore, that inhibition of mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase is a property shared by most Class I anti-arrhythmic drugs which may depend on their lipophilicity and possibly their membrane stabilizing effects.

Kinetics of inhibition of purified and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase by psychosine (beta-galactosylsphingosine)

1. Psychosine (beta-galactosylsphingosine) is the toxic agent in Krabbe's disease (globoid cells leukodystrophy). It inhibits purified bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase; there is a rapid phase of inhibition (complete within 10-15 s) and a slower phase (complete within 10-15 min). Both phases are also seen in rat liver mitochondria. IC50 is about 200 microM psychosine in the purified enzyme and less than 20 microM in mitochondria. Psychosine inhibition is due to binding to cytochrome oxidase, not cytochrome c. 2. Bovine heart submitochondrial particles show inhibition similar to rat liver mitochondria. However, although proteoliposomes containing bovine heart cytochrome oxidase show an identical fast phase, they have no noticeable slow phase of inhibition. Addition of phospholipid liposomes to submitochondrial particles relieved the majority of psychosine inhibition, consistent with the removal of those molecules binding in the slow phase. Psychosine can inhibit cytochrome oxidase molecules facing in either direction in proteoliposomes and submitochondrial particles, suggesting that it can rapidly interact with both sides of a membrane when added externally. 3. At high ionic strength, the presence of psychosine decreases the Vmax. of cytochrome oxidase with little effect on the Km for cytochrome c. This non-competitive inhibition suggests that the psychosine-enzyme complex is kinetically inactive and not labile over the time course of the assay. Psychosine does not inhibit the reduction of haem a or haem a3 by artificial electron donors, but does inhibit the reduction of haem a by cytochrome c.

Effects of class I antiarrhythmic drugs on mitochondrial ATPase activity in guinea pig heart preparations

1. The effects of three class I antiarrhythmic drugs quinidine, lidocaine and lorcainide on undamaged myocardial mitochondrial ATPase [ATP: phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3] activity were evaluated in guinea pig heart preparations. 2. All three drugs inhibited the enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent fashion. 3. Lorcainide was the most potent, exerting inhibitory effects in the range of less than 1.0 nM-2.0 mM, with IC20 and IC50 values of 9.4 +/- 0.6 nM and 87.2 +/- 5.5 microM. However, in the range of approx. 10 nM-10 microM, the enzyme response decreased only slightly with increasing lorcainide concentrations. 4. Quinidine and lidocaine, on the other hand, inhibited the enzyme activity in the range of 1.0 microM-100 mM. 5. The IC20 and IC50 values for quinidine were 0.92 +/- 0.04 mM and 4.8 +/- 0.6 mM and for lidocaine were 115 +/- 6 microM and 2.3 +/- 0.3 mM. 6. The results show that all three drugs inhibit mitochondrial ATPase activity and that lorcainide is the most potent. 7. These inhibitory effects may be related to the lipophilicity and membrane stabilizing activity of this class of antiarrhythmic drugs.

Effect of local anaesthetics on mitochondrial membrane potential in living cells

Using the laser dye rhodamine 123, we demonstrated that local anaesthetics can reach mitochondria in cell culture and reversibly decrease, or even collapse, their transmembrane potential. This effect is highly dependent on the lipid-solubility of the local anaesthetic and can be facilitated by the presence of a lipophilic anion.

Inhibition of cytochrome oxidase by dibucaine

Dibucaine-HCl inhibited mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity in intact mitochondria with 50% inhibition occurring at 1.1 mM dibucaine-HCl. Dibucaine-HCl did not prevent the reduction of cytochrome oxidase by ascorbate plus N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (TMPD) when measured at 604 nm but prevented 50% of the absorbance change at 445 nm; dithionite reduced the oxidase completely. Dibucaine prevented binding of CO to oxidase reduced with ascorbate plus TMPD by preventing the reduction of cytochrome a3. The midpotenials of cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase, the visible absorbance wavelength maxima, and the position and intensity of the signals of the EPR spectrum of the oxidase were not affected. Dibucaine-HCl prevented ascorbate plus TMPD-driven reduction of the near infra-red detectable copper center associated with cytochrome a: dithionite subsequently reduced this center. Dibucaine-HCl inhibited cytochrome oxidase activity by interacting between cytochrome a and its associated copper. Since respiration was 8-fold less sensitive in submitochondrial particles, this site of inhibition is on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.

A comparative study of the effects of procaine, lidocaine, tetracaine and dibucaine on the functions and ultrastructure of isolated rat liver mitochondria

The effects of procaine, lidocaine, tetracaine and dibucaine (10(-5) - 10(-2) M) were tested on isolated rat liver mitochondria by measurements of the respiratory rates and of the membrane potential and by electron microscopy. A general concentration-dependent stimulation of the basal state (respiration before ADP addition) was observed for all local anesthetics studied. Up to the concentration of 10(-3) M, the order of stimulation was: procaine less than lidocaine less than dibucaine less than tetracaine. However, with the exception of dibucaine, which inhibited state-3 respiration (ADP present) in a strictly concentration-dependent manner, the other drugs had a biphasic effect: slight stimulation of state 3 at low and moderate concentrations (less than or equal to 10(-3) M) and inhibition at higher concentrations. Nevertheless, due to a stronger stimulation of the basal state, the acceptor control ratio decreases progressively (uncoupling effect) as the concentration of the drugs increases. The only exception to this observation is procaine in the range of 10(-5) - 10(-4) M, where the stimulation of the two respiration states (although small) is approximately equal and thus the uncoupling effect is absent or negligible. Membrane potential recordings suggested that membrane integrity and phosphorylation capacity were negatively affected at high drug concentrations (greater than 10(-3) M), especially in the case of tetracaine and dibucaine, when 5 x 10(-3) M even produced the collapse of the membrane potential and complete loss of the phosphorylation ability. Electron microscopy confirmed these effects, showing an abundance of either swollen or supercondensed mitochondria, with many membrane ruptures. The action mechanisms of the tertiary amines studied are discussed in terms of interaction of drug with the lipid bilayer and with the membrane proteins. It is concluded that both the inhibitory and the uncoupling effects are dependent, in the first place, on the degree of hydrophobicity of each local anesthetic.

Reversible inhibition of electron transfer in the ubiquinol. Cytochrome c reductase segment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in hibernating ground squirrels

Electron transfer through the ubiquinol:cytochrome c1-segment of liver mitochondria isolated from hibernating ground squirrels Citellus undulatus is repressed by 70-80% as compared to mitochondria from the active animals. The inhibition site is likely to be localized between ubiquinone and the cytochrome bc1 complex. Partial release of the inhibition can be observed upon swelling of the isolated mitochondria in a hypoosmotic medium, the effect being prevented by phospholipase A2 inhibitors. Possible role of phospholipase A2 in regulation of ubiquinol oxidation by complex bc1 is discussed.

The inhibition of a membrane-bound enzyme as a model for anaesthetic action and drug toxicity

The inhibition of the membrane-bound enzyme cytochrome c oxidase by aliphatic n-alcohols and other neutral organic compounds was studied as a model for anaesthetic action and drug toxicity. The n-alcohols (C1 to C14) displayed a variation in inhibition constant of over 500,000-fold. The inhibition constants correlated well with the number of carbon atoms in the n-alcohols and also their n-octanol/water partition coefficients. General anaesthetic potency is known to be similarly well correlated with octanol/water partition coefficients. The free-energy change for transferring a methylene group of the n-alcohol to the more hydrophobic environment bound to the enzyme is similar to that for transferring a methylene group from water to pure alcohol. These results are consistent with the n-alcohols inhibiting by binding to an octanol-like environment on the enzyme or the protein/phospholipid interface. Neither negatively charged carboxylates nor positively charged amine analogues were observed to cause any inhibition, indicating that this postulated binding site may be uncharged. Inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase by n-alcohols was also demonstrated in both bovine heart and rat liver sonicated submitochondrial fragments.

Evidence for electrogenic accumulation of mefloquine by malarial parasites

The uptake of mefloquine and chloroquine by Plasmodium chabaudi-infected mouse erythrocytes was measured in the presence and absence of ionophores and uncoupler in order to distinguish between the pH-dependent and pH-independent absorption of these drugs. Nigericin and CCCP (carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) were used to relax the proton gradients and electrical potentials across the membranes. It was found that 40-60% of the mefloquine uptake, and 90% of the chloroquine uptake, was pH-dependent, the remainder being due to passive binding to cellular constituents. The distribution ratio of the pH-dependent uptake for mefloquine was about three times greater than for chloroquine. According to the lysosomotropic weak base hypothesis in which the neutral forms of weak bases are assumed to equilibrate across membranes, the mefloquine distribution should be smaller than the chloroquine distribution: since mefloquine is singly charged and chloroquine is doubly charged, the chloroquine distribution ratio should vary as the square of the mefloquine ratio. We interpret the greater uptake ratio of mefloquine to be evidence for the involvement of secondary active transport, with drug uptake being coupled to proton outflow by an antiporter protein. It is proposed that the uptake of mefloquine is electrogenic, with the proton gradient and the electrical potential both contributing to the driving force, but that the proton gradient alone is responsible for the chloroquine uptake.

[Molecular mechanism of action of local anesthetics]

The main target of local anaesthetics on nervous tissue is the sodium channel. Molecular biology and electrophysiology have shown different mechanisms of action on this sodium channel, which depend on the chemical structure and electrostatic charge of the local anaesthetic molecule. There are two main types of action, shown up on the isolated axon, a direct one on the sodium channel itself and an alteration in the lipids surrounding the channel. These effects have been shown on the isolated axon and explain the anaesthetic effect by an inhibition of the sodium current. Experimental studies have also shown the effects of local anaesthetics on different organelles within the cell, and so on intracellular metabolism. Mitochondrial energetic metabolism, and therefore ATP synthesis, is reduced by local anaesthetics at several levels. The respiratory enzyme chain is inhibited by small concentrations of local anaesthetic, especially NADH dehydrogenase and ubiquinone succinate dehydrogenase. Moreover, local anaesthetics increase the mitochondrial membrane permeability to protons, thus removing the moving force behind ATPase activity in ATP synthesis; this leads to a drastic fall in available energy. This effect is further increased by a direct inhibition of ATPase and ATP/ADP translocation. Other enzyme systems of other organelles are also disturbed by local anaesthetics, such as the endoplasmic reticular Ca++ ATPase, which is inhibited, so altering the calcium concentration within the cytosol. Local anaesthetics also inhibit lipolysis and glycogenesis. Receptors such as the acetylcholine receptors are blocked by local anaesthetics. The mechanism of action of these drugs on all these protein systems is two-fold: an alteration of protein structure, but also of the lipids surrounding them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Uncoupling effects of local anesthetics on rat liver mitochondria

We demonstrate in this paper that bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, can act alone as an uncoupler of rat liver mitochondria. It stimulates state 4 respiration, induces a swelling in potassium acetate (in the presence of valinomycin), and collapses the transmembrane potential. Lidocaine, another local anesthetic, requires the presence of a lipophilic anion such as TPB- to produce the same effects. TPB- can also reinforce the action of bupivacaine. These differences in action of the two local anesthetics can be explained by the difference in the liposolubility.

Inhibition of human serum and rabbit muscle cholinesterase by local anesthetics

The effects of tertiary amine local anesthetics (procaine, mepivacaine, lidocaine, tetracaine, dibucaine, and bupivacaine) and chlorpromazine were investigated for rabbit muscle acetylcholinesterase and human serum cholinesterase. The muscle enzyme was poorly inhibited by local anesthetics containing an amide linkage. The serum cholinesterase was inhibited by all those compounds, their relative potencies being proportional to their octanol/water partition coefficients. The dissociation constants of tetracaine and procaine, ester anesthetics, were 1000-fold and 100-fold, respectively, that which would be expected from their partition coefficient basis respective to the other amide anesthetics. Procaine showed competitive inhibition of serum cholinesterase, whereas for most anesthetics a mixed type of inhibition was observed. Procaine probably binds at the main anionic site, while the other positively charged anesthetics bind to either the catalytic centre or to the peripheral or modulator anionic site, modifying the kinetic behaviour of cholinesterase as has been demonstrated by the appearance of negative cooperativity for binding to the substrate.

Flow microcalorimetry investigation of the influence of surfactants on a heterogeneous aerobic culture

The influence of various surfactants on the biological activity of a mixed aerobic culture has been investigated by using flow microcalorimetry. The response of the culture to the addition of homologous n-alkylcarboxylates (C2 to C16) and n-alkylpyridinium bromides (C11 to C14) has been examined under endogenous and substrate saturation conditions, and inhibitory concentrations (MIC or the concentration which decreased the initial activity (heat flux) of the culture by 50%) were determined for each state. Under both conditions, the n-alkylpyridinium bromides were found to be more toxic than the n-alkylcarboxylates of identical chain length, thus confirming that the head group of the amphiphiles plays an important role in the microbial toxicity of surfactants. The relationship observed between the concentration at which 50% of the activity is lost and the chain length of the surfactant further confirms that cellular toxicity is also dependent on surfactant hydrophobicity. In relation to the biodegradability of surfactants in mixed aerobic cultures, the low concentration effects of n-alkylcarboxylates on endogenous culture were investigated in some detail. There appear to be compounded indications that these surfactants are rapidly metabolized by the microorganisms of the mixed culture, at least for homologs lower than C10.

Stoichiometry and dissociation constants for interaction of tetracaine with mitochondrial adenosinetriphosphatase as determined by fluorescence

The stoichiometry and dissociation constants for the interaction of tetracaine with chloroform-released ATPase prepared from beef heart mitochondria were determined from the enhancement of tetracaine fluorescence intensity that occurs upon binding. There is a single class of approximately 60 thermodynamically equivalent binding sites on ATPase for tetracaine; these have a microscopic dissociation constant of 4.9 X 10(-4) M at 25 degrees C under solvent conditions that are similar to those used for enzyme assay. Analysis of enzyme kinetic data according to a partial noncompetitive scheme gave an inhibitor constant for tetracaine of 4.8 X 10(-4) M. The numerical agreement between the dissociation constant and the inhibitor constant shows that the filling of the same class of sites is probably responsible for both the enzyme inhibition and the fluorescence enhancement. The sites are hydrophobic, as evidenced by the blue shift and the magnitude of the fluorescence enhancement that occur upon binding.

Effects of tricyclic antidepressant drugs on energy-linked reactions in mitochondria

The effects of impramine and chlorimipramine on energy-linked reactions in mitochondria were characterized. Both compounds exhibited some characteristics of classical uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, i.e. they released respiratory control, hindered ATP synthesis, and enhanced ATPase activity of isolated rat liver mitochondria. Unlike classical uncouplers, however, these compounds only weakly stimulated proton uptake in intact mitochondria. They also exhibited unusual effects on energy-linked reactions in beef heart submitochondrial particles (SMP). Both compounds inhibited NADH oxidation in SMP in an "oligomycin-like" manner, and inhibited ATPase activity of SMP and the soluble F1-ATPase. In contrast, the drugs weakly inhibited ATPase activities of bovine adrenal gland chromaffin granules and resealed granule ghosts. The mechanisms responsible for the multiple effects on mitochondrial energy-linked processes are unclear. They may be related to the hydrophobicity of the drugs, as has been shown for other hydrophobic amines.

Reciprocal effects of phenothiazines and naphthalene sulfonamides on the external ATP-dependent permeability change in Chinese hamster ovary cells

External ATP causes a great increase in passive permeability to phosphorylated metabolites in several transformed cells, but not in untransformed cells. We have previously demonstrated that the external ATP-dependent permeability change was induced in Chinese hamster ovary cells, CHO-K1, only in the presence of a mitochondrial inhibitor (rotenone, KCN) or a cytoskeleton-attacking agent, vinblastine (Kitagawa, T. and Akamatsu, Y. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 649, 76-82 (1981); 734, 25-32 (1983]. A similar ATP-dependent permeability change was also induced in CHO cells when the cells were treated with 10-30 microM trifluoperazine. This permeability change, like the previously mentioned ones, was found to be reversible and the treated cells remained viable. The permeability change induced by ATP and trifluoperazine was independent of changes in cellular ATP concentration and this property was the same as that of the permeability change with external ATP and vinblastine. Since trifluoperazine is known to interact with calmodulin and to inhibit calmodulin-dependent cellular functions, these results may indicate that calmodulin associated with the cytoskeleton plays an important role in control of the permeability change, although nonspecific perturbation by the drug of the membranes cannot be ruled out. Chlorpromazine and a naphthalene sulfonamide, W-7, also induced an ATP-dependent permeability change. However, these drugs, like mitochondrial inhibitors, reduced the cellular ATP concentration to induce the permeability change. Thus, a clear difference in the action of these drugs in intact cells was also shown in this study. Possible mechanisms for the ATP-dependent permeability change in mammalian cells are discussed.

Local anesthetics: a new class of partial inhibitors of mitochondrial ATPase

The following characteristics are reported for mitochondrial ATPase prepared by the chloroform extraction method: (1) The pH optimum for enzyme activity is at 8.0. (2) The neutral anesthetic benzocaine inhibits the enzyme at all pH values. (3) Reciprocal plots of 1/v versus 1/[ATP] show that inhibition by lidocaine, tetracaine, dibucaine, and chlorpromazine is noncompetitive; slope and intercept replots are hyperbolic, showing that the inhibition is partial rather than complete.