[Level of functional mitochondrial activity of the preserved kidney]

The authors investigated the activity of mitochondria from cells of the cortical and of the medullar structures of the dog kidney perfused in pulsatile flow and under hypothermia for a duration of 12 hours, as well as for 24 hours. The swelling-contraction process was determined, and the thiol (T-SH) groups in mitochondrial suspensions. The kinetics of the mitochondrial swelling showed moderate reduction of the activity, differentiated in the medullary and in the cortical areas, and depending on the duration of the perfusion. The energetic processes in the medullary layer were less affected than in the cortical. There was correlation of mitochondrial function and the contents in thiol groups.