Notes: Examination of the downstream mediators responsible for inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by dopamine (DA) was investigated. Consistent with findings reported by others, exposure of rat brain mitochondria to 0.5 mm DA for 15 min at 30°C inhibited pyruvate/glutamate/malate-supported state-3 respiration by 20%. Inhibition was prevented in the presence of pargyline and clorgyline demonstrating that mitochondrial inhibition arose from products formed following MAO metabolism and could include hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) or glutathione–protein mixed disulfides (PrSSG). As with DA, direct incubation of intact mitochondria with H2O2 (100 µm) significantly inhibited state-3 respiration. In contrast, incubation with GSSG (1 mm) had no effect on O2 consumption. Exposure of mitochondria to 1 mm GSSG resulted in a 3.3-fold increase in PrSSG formation compared with 1.4- and 1.5-fold increases in the presence of 100 µm H2O2 or 0.5 mm DA, respectively, suggesting a dissociation between PrSSG formation and effects on respiration. The lack of inhibition of respiration by GSSG could not be accounted for by inadequate delivery of GSSG into mitochondria as increases in PrSSG levels in both membrane-bound (2-fold) and intramatrix (3.5-fold) protein compartments were observed. Furthermore, GSSG was without effect on electron transport chain activities in freeze–thawed brain mitochondria or in pig heart electron transport particles (ETP). In contrast, H2O2 showed differential effects on inhibition of respiration supported by different substrates with a sensitivity of succinate 〉 pyruvate/malate 〉 glutamate/malate. NADH oxidase and succinate oxidase activities in freeze–thawed mitochondria were inhibited with IC50 approximately 2–3-fold higher than in intact mitochondria. ETPs, however, were relatively insensitive to H2O2. Co-administration of desferrioxamine with H2O2 had no effect on complex I-associated inhibition in intact mitochondria, but attenuated inhibition of rotenone-sensitive NADH oxidase activity by 70% in freeze–thawed mitochondria. The results show that DA-associated inhibition of respiration is dependent on MAO and that H2O2 and its downstream hydroxyl radical rather than increased GSSG and subsequent PrSSG formation mediate the effects.

Notes: The neurotoxic actions of methamphetamine (METH) may be mediated in part by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methamphetamine administration leads to increases in ROS formation and lipid peroxidation in rodent brain; however, the extent to which proteins may be modified or whether affected brain regions exhibit similar elevations of lipid and protein oxidative markers have not been investigated. In this study we measured concentrations of TBARs, protein carbonyls and monoamines in various mouse brain regions at 4 h and 24 h after the last of four injections of METH (10 mg/kg/injection q 2 h). Substantial increases in TBARs and protein carbonyls were observed in the striatum and hippocampus but not the frontal cortex nor the cerebellum of METH-treated mice. Furthermore, lipid and protein oxidative markers were highly correlated within each brain region. In the hippocampus and striatum elevations in oxidative markers were significantly greater at 24 h than at 4 h. Monoamine levels were maximally reduced within 4 h (striatal dopamine [DA] by 95% and serotonin [5-HT] in striatum, cortex and hippocampus by 60–90%). These decrements persisted for 7 days after METH, indicating effects reflective of nerve terminal damage. Interestingly, NE was only transiently depleted in the brain regions investigated (hippocampus and cortex), suggesting a pharmacological and non-toxic action of METH on the noradrenergic nerve terminals. This study provides the first evidence for concurrent formation of lipid and protein markers of oxidative stress in several brain regions of mice that are severely affected by large neurotoxic doses of METH. Moreover, the differential time course for monoamine depletion and the elevations in oxidative markers indicate that the source of oxidative stress is not derived directly from DA or 5HT oxidation.