Mitochondrial sites of hydrogen peroxide production in reperfused rat kidney cortex

Electron transport and production of O2-/H2O2 by the NADH dehydrogenase flavin-semiquinone (FMNH.) and ubisemiquinone (UQH.) were studied in a model of in vivo ischemia-reperfusion in rat kidney. H2O2 production rates were assessed in isolated mitochondria using either succinate, with and without antimycin, or malate-glutamate, with and without rotenone. Respiratory activities of isolated mitochondria and activity of NADH- and succinate-cytochrome c reductase and of NADH- and succinate-dehydrogenase in submitochondrial particles were measured to evaluate the electron flux throughout respiratory carriers. The mitochondrial H2O2 production rate was approximately 1.5- and 4-times increased in ischemic and ischemic-reperfused kidneys, respectively. Ischemia caused a marked decrease in the electron transport throughout the NADH-UQ segment with no significant changes either in the NADH dehydrogenase activity or in the electron flux trough the succinate-cytochrome oxidase segment. Reperfusion did not further affect the NADH-ubiquinone segment but markedly inhibited the succinate-supported oxygen consumption, succinate-cytochrome c reductase and succinate dehydrogenase activity. Our results show a redistribution of the electron flux with an increased rate of superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide production at NADH dehydrogenase in mitochondria subjected to ischemia only. After 10 min reperfusion an impairment of the electron flow at succinate-cytochrome c segment is established and hydrogen peroxide production by UQH. increases up to maximal values becoming the major source of superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide.