Mechanism of adaptive increase of respiratory enzymes in rat liver mitochondria during obstructive jaundice.

In order to elucidate the response of mitochondria to obstructive jaundice, we have examined the effects of common bile duct ligation on rat liver mitochondria. Although oxidative phosphorylation, especially respiratory control, of mitochondria was disturbed after the ligation, specific enzymic activities and subunit contents of the respiratory enzymes in mitochondria were significantly increased one week after the ligation. The immunostain for ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase confirmed the increase in the subunit amounts in hepatocytes. This increase was associated with the increase in specific contents of DNA in mitochondria. These results suggest that mitochondrial biosynthesis is stimulated during obstructive jaundice.