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[The functioning of mammalian mitochondria injected into fish embryos]
Abstract:
The possibility of mammalian mitochondria functioning in fish embryos has been studied. Suspension of mitochondria isolated from the mouse fibroblast B-82/cap (chloramphenicol-resistant) and B-82 (chloramphenicol sensitive) cell cultures, were injected into the fertilized loach eggs. These embryos with an artificially increased number of mouse mitochondria developed and lived till the larval stages. Activity of cytochrome oxidase in these embryos was 1.5-2 times that in the control several hours after the injection, decreased during development and reached the control level by the gastrula stage. If these embryos with artificially increased number of mouse mitochondria were incubated in presence of chloramphenicol, only embryos that contained mitochondria from chloramphenicol-resistant cells survived, thus suggesting that the injected mitochondria do not degrade but are preserved and function in the cytoplasm of developing loach embryos.
Insights
Mammalian mitochondria were injected into fish embryos, which survived and developed. This suggests that foreign mitochondria can function within developing fish embryos, offering insights into interspecies mitochondrial compatibility.
Area of Science:
- Mitochondrial biology
- Developmental biology
- Comparative physiology
Background:
- Mitochondria are crucial for cellular energy production.
- The functional integration of xenogeneic mitochondria into developing embryos is not well understood.
- Investigating interspecies mitochondrial compatibility is key to understanding cellular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional viability of mammalian mitochondria within fish embryos.
- To determine if injected mitochondria can be preserved and actively function during embryonic development.
- To assess the impact of xenogeneic mitochondria on early developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of mitochondria from chloramphenicol-resistant and sensitive mouse fibroblast cell lines.
- Microinjection of isolated mouse mitochondria into fertilized loach (fish) eggs.
- Monitoring embryonic development and survival rates.
- Assessing cytochrome oxidase activity as an indicator of mitochondrial function.
- Incubation with chloramphenicol to test mitochondrial resistance and viability.
Main Results:
- Injected mouse mitochondria did not degrade and were preserved in loach embryos.
- Embryos with added mouse mitochondria developed to larval stages.
- Initial increase in cytochrome oxidase activity observed, returning to control levels by gastrulation.
- Embryos survived chloramphenicol treatment only if injected with resistant mouse mitochondria.
Conclusions:
- Mammalian mitochondria can be functionally integrated into developing fish embryos.
- Injected mitochondria remain viable and contribute to embryonic development.
- This study demonstrates functional interspecies mitochondrial compatibility in a developmental context.