[In vivo effect of precursors of ubiquinone biosynthesis on sensitivity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore in the heart of old rats].

This research work is devoted to study of the sensitivity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening to its inductors--ions Ca2+ (10(-4) mol/l) and oxidant phenylarsine oxide (10(-4) mol/l) and content of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q, CoQ) and vitamin E in heart mitochondria of adult, old (control) and old rats under administration of precursors an modulator of CoQ biosynthesis--4-hydroxybenzoic acid, methionine and modulator of CoQ biosynthesis, namely vitamin E. The results of our research demonstrate that administration of complex of biologically active substances, which are precursors and modulators of CoQ biosynthesis, leads to decrease in the sensitivity of MPTP opening to its inductors and increase of CoQ and vitamin E content in old rats heart mitochondria. Therefore the results obtained lead to a conclusion that increase of CoQ content due to administration of precursors and modulator of its biosynthesis is an effective way in the inhibition of MPTP opening. This approach as well as application of CoQ-containing medicals may be used for correction of mitochondrial dysfunction under various pathologies of cardiovascular system and in aging.