Protective action of methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) on the mitochondrial membrane

At low concentrations (0.5-1.0 mM) methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) exhibited a clearcut protection of rat liver mitochondria against the deenergizing action of either Ca2+, or oxidizing agents (butylhydroperoxide and oxaloacetate). Such a protection resulted from the prevention of transmembrane potential decay, discharge of accumulated Ca2+, release of mitochondrial Mg2+, adenine nucleotides and pyridine nucleotides and mitochondrial swelling. At high concentrations (5-10 mM) MGBG induced functional alterations of mitochondria (decrease of transmembrane potential, lower capability to accumulate and to retain Ca2+) which can be reversed by resuspension of mitochondria in a MGBG free medium. These reversible mitochondrial alterations by high MGBG concentrations are interpreted as a consequence of an aggregation and coprecipitation of suspended mitochondria.