cytochromes-c1 and Cholestasis

Mitochondrial respiratory function of the liver is disturbed in biliary obstruction, especially in that caused by tumours in the hepatobiliary system. This study aimed to clarify whether a glucocorticoid, prednisolone succinate, is effective to improve the reduced mitochondrial function of the rat liver in obstructive jaundice. Five doses of 5 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg prednisolone succinate were administered at 5 consecutive days to the rats after 1, 3 or 6 weeks of biliary obstruction and to the rats without obstruction, and the hepatic mitochondrial function and contents of cytochromes of these rats were investigated. With 25 mg/kg prednisolone, hepatic mitochondrial function was improved in rats with biliary obstruction of 3- or 6-weeks duration as compared with the prednisolone-untreated group. Compensatory increase or recuperation of the once decreased cytochrome A(+a3) and/or turnover number of phosphorylation was also observed in 25 mg/kg group. Hepatic mitochondrial function of obstruction-free animals was rather impaired by treatment with 25 mg/kg prednisolone. In 5 mg/kg group, above mentioned effects were scarcely observed. It was concluded that the hepatic mitochondrial function in animals with prolonged biliary obstruction, as same as in animals with short-term obstruction, can be improved by the administration of adequately large amounts of prednisolone.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Cholestasis; Cytochrome c Group; Cytochromes c1; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electron Transport Complex IV; Male; Mitochondria, Liver; Oxygen Consumption; Phosphorylation; Prednisolone; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains