Effect of prooxidants on mitochondrial permeability transition and cell death in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.

Ca2+ retention in mitochondria, opening of the Cysclosporin A- sensitive permeability transition pore and cell death were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells in the presence of different prooxidants. Low concentrations (1-20 microM) of the prooxidants (menadione, cumenehydroperoxide, t-butylhydroperoxide) induced pore-opening in permeabilized cells at threshold Ca2+ load. Incubation of cells with low concentrations of prooxidants was able to induce cell cycle disturbance and cell death. Under the prooxidant effect, mitochondrial membrane potential drop and Ca2+ retention decrease in mitochondria were found to precede death of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.