Effect of Glucocorticoid Deflazacort on Respiration and Calcium-Dependent Permeability of Rat Liver Mitochondria
This study examines the effect of glucocorticoid deflazacort on the functioning of rat liver mitochondria. Deflazacort at concentrations up to 100 μM has been shown to have no effect on respiration and oxidative phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondria, energized both in the presence of glutamate/malate (substrates of complex I of the respiratory chain) and succinate (substrate of complex II of the respiratory chain), and also does not affect activity of complexes of the respiratory chain of organelles. It was found that deflazacort does not affect the permeability of the inner membrane of liver mitochondria, but reduces the resistance of organelles to the induction of calcium-dependent MPT pore. In addition, we have found that this glucocorticoid is able to induce a decrease in the level of mitochondrial NAD(P)H, as well as inhibit the production of hydrogen peroxide by organelles. The paper discusses how the effects of deflazacort on mitochondrial function may be related to the therapeutic effects of this agent.