Liver and heart mitochondria in rats submitted to chronic hypobaric hypoxia

Mitochondrial mass was determined in the heart and liver of rats submitted to 4,400 m (simulated altitude) for 9 mo and their controls at sea level. This was done 1) by evaluation of isolated mitochondrial protein per gram of tissue, 2) by evaluation of the ratio between cytochrome oxidase activity in tissue homogenate and in isolated mitochondria, and 3) by evaluation of mitochondrial numerical and volume density in fixed tissues analyzed by electron microscopy. An increase in mitochondrial mass and a more homogeneous distribution of mitochondria were found in liver. In cardiac tissue an increase in numerical density of mitochondria accompanied by a slight decrease in their mean volume was observed. Maximal physiological rate of mitochondrial respiration (state 3, active respiration), resting respiration, ADP/O, and acceptor control ratio were determined in the isolated mitochondria. No differences were found in the intrinsic properties of mitochondria. The results suggest that chronic mild hypoxia promotes tissue adaptation by increasing the mitochondrial mass or number in liver and heart, respectively, and improves intracellular O2 diffusion by adopting a more homogeneous intracellular distribution of mitochondria in the liver.