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Alterations in cerebral mitochondria during acute hypoglycemia
Juan R Ballesteros1, Om P Mishra, Jane E McGowan
1Department of Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Biology of the Neonate
|August 9, 2003
Summary
Acute hypoglycemia causes free radical damage to brain mitochondria in piglets. This mitochondrial damage, indicated by lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, may contribute to hypoglycemic brain injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Hypoglycemia can cause brain injury.
- The role of free radicals in this process is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if acute hypoglycemia induces free radical damage in cerebral mitochondria.
- To examine alterations in cerebral cortical synaptosomes, mitochondria, and neuronal nuclei.
Main Methods:
- Newborn piglets were subjected to 2 hours of insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
- Lipid peroxidation in membranes and DNA fragmentation were measured.
- Measurements were taken in cerebral cortical synaptosomes, mitochondria, and neuronal nuclei.
Main Results:
- Lipid peroxidation significantly increased in mitochondrial membranes of hypoglycemic piglets.
- No increase in peroxidation was observed in synaptosomal or nuclear membranes.
- Low molecular weight DNA fragments increased in mitochondrial DNA but not nuclear DNA.
Conclusions:
- Acute hypoglycemia leads to free radical-induced alterations in cerebral mitochondria.
- Mitochondrial damage may be an early event in hypoglycemic brain injury pathogenesis.