Mitochondrial gene expression is impaired by ethanol exposure in cultured chick cardiac myocytes

Cardiovascular Research
J M Kennedy

Abstract

A depression in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity occurs following chronic embryonic ethanol exposure in vivo. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of chronic ethanol exposure on COX activity in isolated cardiac cells maintained in vitro. Additionally, the mechanism by which ethanol produces an impairment in COX activity was evaluated by examining mitochondrial gene expression. Spontaneously beating cardiac myocyte cultures were established from 10-day embryonic chick hearts. Various concentrations of ethanol (0-250 mM) were introduced at the time of plating and cells were harvested over 7 days. COX activity was determined in myocyte homogenates. The levels of nuclear-encoded (COXIV) and mitochondrial-encoded (COXII) subunit proteins were measured by Western blotting. Relative levels of mitochondrial DNA and the mitochondrially-encoded COXIII mRNA were determined by Southern and Northern blotting. A consistent decrease in COX activity in ethanol-exposed cardiac myocytes of approximately 30% was observed with an ethanol concentration of 25 mM. Increasing the ethanol concentration to 250 mM produced only a minor enhancement of this effect, while severely decreasing cellular viability. The content of the mitochondrial...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 3, 2000·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·M F Cavieres, S M Smith
Nov 3, 2004·Journal of Hepatology·Marie-Astrid PiquetXavier M Leverve
May 29, 1999·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·J ChenG I Henderson
May 17, 2003·Circulation Research·Paul B BushdidKatherine E Yutzey

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