[Succinate dehydrogenase activity in hepatocyte mitochondria in experimental cholestasis]

The method of electron microscopy was used to study the activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in hepatocyte mitochondria during cholestasis and after restoration of the flow of bile. The activity of the enzyme was detected on the membrane of cysts and the inner membrane of the hepatocyte mitochondria. Cholestasis was accompanied by gradual inhibition of SDH activity in the mitochondria to total inhibition by the 30th day of the experiment. SDH activity and the degree of mitochondrial destructive changes were found to be closely related. Restoration of the enzyme activity in the mitochondria after cholestasis correction occurred in a different manner depending on the duration of jaundice. SDH activity was restored rapidly in 10-day cholestasis and slowly in cholestasis of a long duration (20 days), which is attributed to deeper destructive changes of the mitochondria.