Poor recovery of mitochondrial redox state in CA1 after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Several investigations have detected evidence of apoptosis in delayed neuronal death, but controversy prevails regarding this point. Recent studies have implicated mitochondria in apoptotic events. To explore relationships between delayed neuronal death and dysfunction of the respiratory chain, we analyzed mitochondrial redox changes in the gerbil hippocampus. METHODS We assessed the mitochondrial redox state in gerbil hippocampus before, during, and at various time points after 5 minutes of forebrain ischemia. The redox state was examined with a low-temperature fluorometer. Fluorescence signals of flavoprotein and NADH were measured, and their fluorescence ratio was calculated as a mitochondrial redox ratio (MRR) equal to flavoprotein/(flavoprotein+NADH). RESULTS Ischemia increased NADH and decreased flavoprotein signals in all hippocampal areas, but reduction in MRR was greater in CA1 than in other areas of the hippocampus. Immediately after recirculation, MRR recovery was delayed in the CA1 and the dentate gyrus, and the reduction in MRR persisted in CA1. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that during ischemia CA1 experiences more pronounced hypoxia (state V) than less vulnerable regions. Persistent MRR reduction in CA1 is attributed to dysfunction of the electron transport system, and this phenomenon may be importantly involved in apoptosis.