Decreased complex III activity in mitochondria isolated from rat heart subjected to ischemia and reperfusion: role of reactive oxygen species and cardiolipin

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered an important factor in ischemia-reperfusion injury to cardiac myocites. We have examined the effects of ischemia (30 min) and ischemia followed by reperfusion (15 min) of rat hearts on the activity of complex III and on the cardiolipin content in isolated mitochondria. Mitochondrial production of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation was also measured. The capacity of mitochondria to produce both H2O2 and lipid peroxidation increased upon reperfusion. The activity of complex III was 22% and 46% lower in ischemic and reperfused rat heart mitochondria, respectively, than that of controls. These changes in complex III activity were associated to parallel changes in state 3 respiration. The mitochondrial content of cardiolipin, which is required for optimal activity of complex III, decreased by 28% and by 50% as a function of ischemia and reperfusion, respectively. The lower complex III activity in mitochondria from reperfused rat hearts could be completely restored to the level of normal hearts by exogenously added cardiolipin. It is proposed that the loss of complex III activity in reperfused rat hearts can be mainly ascribed to a loss of cardiolipin content, due to oxidative attack by oxygen free radicals.