[Age-specific changes in the functional indices of rats' cardiac mitochondria in chronic alcohol intoxication.]

The effect of chromic continuous consumption of 5 and 10% ethyl alcohol over 6 months on the respiratory function and oxidant/antioxidant status of rats' cardiac mitochondria of different gender and age has been studied. A decrease in oxygen consumption rate by cardiomyocyte mitochondria in the metabolic conditions V2, V3, V4 according to Chance involving activation of respiratory chain complexes I, I+II and II in elderly (24-month old) animals as compared to young (11-month old) animals. As the rats were ageing, the concentration of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products (malondialdehyde) was increasing, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) was decreasing in cardiomyocyte mitochondria. Chronic alcoholization of 24-month old rats of both genders resulted in a more pronounced decline in the respiratory function activity of cardiac mitochondria, uncoupling of respiration and oxidative phosporylation, reduced activity of antiradical protection enzymes and increased LPO products as compared to younger rats.