Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Mitochondria

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...

Mitochondrial Membranes

Mitochondrial Membranes

A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...

Aging

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cortistatin as a modulator of inflammatory and mitochondrial dysfunction in Huntington´s disease.

Journal of neuroinflammation·2026

Same author

Consensus document on frailty: conceptualization, detection, multidisciplinary management and future roadmap.

The journal of nutrition, health & aging·2026

Same author

Successful treatment of neonatal COQ2 deficiency with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2026

Same author

MelAnalyze: fact-checking melatonin claims using large language models and natural language inference.

BMC medical informatics and decision making·2025

Same author

Hypoxic preconditioning increases mitochondrial respiration and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production.

Frontiers in molecular neuroscience·2025

Same author

Noncoding RNA molecules mediating skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and their potential applications in exercise molecular physiology: a systematic review.

American journal of physiology. Cell physiology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Real-Time Analysis of Bioenergetics in Primary Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Respirometry

Real-Time Analysis of Bioenergetics in Primary Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Respirometry

Published on: February 3, 2023

Melatonin protects lung mitochondria from aging.

Darío Acuña-Castroviejo¹, Miguel Carretero, Carolina Doerrier

¹Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Granada, Spain.

Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

|May 27, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Melatonin administration prevented age-related lung mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in mice. This finding suggests melatonin could be a preventive therapy for respiratory complications in the elderly.

More Related Videos

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Published on: November 23, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Real-Time Analysis of Bioenergetics in Primary Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Respirometry

Real-Time Analysis of Bioenergetics in Primary Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Respirometry

Published on: February 3, 2023

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Published on: November 23, 2011

Area of Science:

Mitochondrial biology
Aging research
Pharmacology

Background:

Aging is associated with increased oxidative stress in lung mitochondria.
This age-dependent decline impacts mitochondrial function and respiratory capacity.
These effects are more pronounced in males than females.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if melatonin administration can prevent age-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in mouse lungs.
To evaluate the impact of melatonin on mitochondrial respiratory chain and ATP production during aging.

Main Methods:

Mitochondria were isolated from male and female senescent-prone mice at 5 and 10 months of age.
Oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation, nitrite, glutathione redox ratio) and enzyme activities were measured.
Mitochondrial respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation (ATP production) were assessed.
Mice received melatonin in drinking water for 9 months.

Main Results:

Aging induced significant oxidative/nitrosative stress and reduced respiratory chain activity and ATP production in lung mitochondria.
Melatonin administration completely counteracted these age-related changes.
Melatonin treatment restored mitochondrial function and increased ATP production, with similar benefits observed in both genders.

Conclusions:

Melatonin administration effectively prevents age-related hyperoxidative status and functional decline in lung mitochondria.
Melatonin acts as a single therapy to maintain lung mitochondrial function during aging.
Melatonin should be considered for preventive therapy against lung aging and associated respiratory complications.