[Effect of corticosterone on mitochondrial respiration of slices of rat liver].

The corticosterone effect on the cyanide-sensitive (mitochondrial) respiration of liver slices of intact and adrenalectomized rats has been studied. The 10(-5) M hormone has been shown to inhibit the mitochondrial respiration of intact rat liver slices. A similar effect is observed in adrenalectomized rats after a short-term stimulation. A stimulating effect of the 10(-8) M steroid on the mitochondrial liver slices respiration is observed in adrenalectomized rats only. Both stimulating and inhibiting effects are recorded 5 min after incubation of the slices with the hormone. It has been concluded that corticosterone can produce a direct effect on the liver cell mitochondrial respiration. It has been assumed that mitochodrial respiration stimulation by a physiological level of the steroid can be important for cell preparation for hormone nucleic effect realization.