[Effect of thyroxine on the NADH cytochrome c reductase activity of microsomes and outer mitochondrial membrane of rat liver depending on age].

The rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity and cytochrome b5 content in mitochondria and microsomes of liver of 1-, 3-, 12- and 24-month-old rats were studied. Thyroxine injection caused a considerable decrease in the microsomal activity in all age groups under study; in mitochondria this effect was increased with age. The decrease of the cytochrome b5 content was maximal in the microsomes and mitochondria of 12- and 24-month-old animals and was insignificant in 1-month-old rats. It was assumed that the age variations in regulation of the outer mitochondrial membrane function can be due changes in their population.