Labilization of lysosomes and mitochondria in situ by hypoxia and hypoxia-related factors.

Primary cultures of rat heart muscle and endothelioid cells were used to study the labilization of lysosomes and mitochondria by hypoxia, "hypoxia substitutes", and the in vivo-related factors of free fatty acid and pH. Subliminally-active levels tested were: hypoxia (1% O2/4 days), 5x10(-6)M sodium stearate: albumin in 6:1 ratio/30 min, KCN (1x10(-3)M/1 hr), 2 deoxy-glucose (3x10(-2)M/12 hr), acidosis (pH 6.9/30 min) and combinations. KCN plus 2-DG labilized the organelles in both cell types. Sensitivity to injury was in the order mitochondria greater than lysosomes and muscle cells greater than endothelioid cells.