Respiration of mitochondria from the gonads of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis: the effects of petroleum fractions on oxygen consumption.

The respiration of mitochondria from gonads of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis has been studied in the presence of 2-oxoglutarate, glutamate and succinate. The rate of oxygen consumption increased with temperature between 4 and 20 degrees C. Removal of gametes from ripe gonads was necessary to obtain good respiring mitochondria. Equilibration of respiration media with various petroleum fractions reduced the rate of oxygen consumption and the coupling of O2 consumption to ADP utilization. Lighter fractions (leaded gasolines, unleaded gasoline and related fractions) were more deleterious than medium fractions (kerosene and fuel oil). Heavy fraction (bunker C, vacuum bottoms and crude oil) were least deleterious. Tetraethyl lead contributed to the toxicity of the leaded fractions.