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Effect of calcium on mitochondria from human term placenta
J P Garduño1, M T Espinosa-García, J P Pardo
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F.
Placenta
|November 1, 1992
Abstract:
We describe here the effects of free Ca2+ on several functions of mitochondria from human term placenta. In the presence of 0.1 microM free Ca2+, an inhibitory effect on both ADP-induced respiration and succinate-DCPIP reductase activity was observed. At the same Ca2+ concentration, ATPase activity as well as various segments of the respiratory chain were stimulated. However, a higher free Ca2+ concentration (0.3 microM) was needed to stimulate progesterone synthesis. Our results suggest that Ca2+ plays an important role in the metabolic functions of mitochondria from human term placenta.