Effect of bovine serum albumin on mitochondrial respiration in the brain and liver of mice and rats.

We studied the effect of BSA (in the isolation medium) on the oxidation rate of succinate, glutamate, pyruvate, and α-ketoglutarate by mitochondria of the brain and liver from C57Bl/6g mice and Taconic Sprague Dawley rats. BSA had no effect on liver mitochondrial respiration, but increased oxidation of substrates (particularly of succinate) in brain mitochondria. Therefore, the major effect of BSA on brain mitochondria is manifested in activation of SDH. The improvement of mitochondrial properties in the brain after treatment with BSA is associated with antioxidant activity of this agent. Our results confirm the hypothesis that inhibition of SDH in brain mitochondria is not the artifact. This process serves as a mechanism protecting neurons from free oxygen radicals during succinate oxidation.