Hypothyroidism prevents postnatal changes in rat liver mitochondrial populations defined by rhodamine-123 staining.

The effect of hypothyroidism on the percentages of low fluorescence population (LFP) and high fluorescence population (HFP) rhodamine-123-stained mitochondria, respiratory parameters, and ATPase activity were studied in liver mitochondria from early newborn rats. Hypothyroidism prevented the decrease in the percentage of HFP and the subsequent increase in LFP that occurs immediately after birth. This effect coincides with the impairment of mitochondrial respiratory function, as shown by the low respiratory control ratio and the low activity of F0,F1-ATPase found in hypothyroid newborns. All of these changes were reversed by the administration of thyroid hormones. ATP in vitro promotes the conversion of HFP into LFP and increases the respiratory control ratio in hypothyroid newborns, although this effect was not observed after thyroid hormone treatment. The effect of thyroid hormones on both the postnatal changes in mitochondrial populations and in F0,F1-ATPase activity was prevented by cycloheximide, but not by streptomycin. Thus, the observed effects of thyroid hormones on neonatal mitochondria must be accomplished by the induction of the synthesis of some nuclei-coded protein, possibly involved in F0,F1-ATPase assembly.