[Changes in the liver mitochondria due to gamma-ray irradiation of hen embryos and chickens].

Studied were the changes in the activity of the mitochondria-specific enzyme malatedehydrogenase (MDH) and the ATP content in the liver of chick embryos and chickens irradiated with 1000 rad. The total activity of MDH as well as the content of ATP dropped and the 'free' activity of MDH rose, but such was not the case of 20-day-old embryos. These changes were most pronounced in 12-day-old embryos. This showed that the changes in the mitochondria depend on the stage of embryonic development.