Cyclosporin A-Sensitive Cytochrome c Release and Activation of External Pathway of NADH Oxidation in Liver Mitochondria Due to Pore Opening by Acidification of Phosphate-Containing Incubation Medium

Acidification of a high phosphate incubation medium from pH 7.4 to 6.5 promotes increase in rates of succinate oxidation and exogenous NADH oxidation via external (rotenone- and myxothiazol-resistant) pathway by factors 2 and 2.3 respectively. Cyclosporin A prevents these effects. To measure the cytochrome c release, mitochondrial cytochrome c concentration was calculated from absorption spectrum of α-band of cytochromes c+c₁. The cytochrome c release is shown to be equal to 27±4%, 40±12%, 70±5% at pH 7.4, 7.0, 6.5, respectively, the last value being reduced by cyclosporin A to 10±3%. Immunoblot method gives the similar results. It is concluded that acidification of the high phosphate medium induces release of a large part of the cytochrome c pool from liver mitochondria due to opening the Ca²⁺-dependent cyclosporin A-sensitive permeability transition pore and subsequent high amplitude swelling.