Mitochondrial uncoupling does not decrease reactive oxygen species production after ischemia-reperfusion

Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) leads to myocardial dysfunction by increasing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrial H⁺ leak decreases ROS formation; it has been postulated that increasing H⁺ leak may be a mechanism of decreasing ROS production after IR. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) decreases ROS formation after IR, but the mechanism is unknown. We hypothesize that pharmacologically increasing mitochondrial H⁺ leak would decrease ROS production after IR. We further hypothesize that IPC would be associated with an increase in the rate of H⁺ leak. Isolated male Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were subjected to either control or IPC. Mitochondria were isolated at end equilibration, end ischemia, and end reperfusion. Mitochondrial membrane potential (mΔΨ) was measured using a tetraphenylphosphonium electrode. Mitochondrial uncoupling was achieved by adding increasing concentrations of FCCP. Mitochondrial ROS production was measured by fluorometry using Amplex-Red. Pyridine dinucleotide levels were measured using HPLC. Before IR, increasing H⁺ leak decreased mitochondrial ROS production. After IR, ROS production was not affected by increasing H⁺ leak. H⁺ leak increased at end ischemia in control mitochondria. IPC mitochondria showed no change in the rate of H⁺ leak throughout IR. NADPH levels decreased after IR in both IPC and control mitochondria while NADH increased. Pharmacologically, increasing H⁺ leak is not a method of decreasing ROS production after IR. Replenishing the NADPH pool may be a means of scavenging the excess ROS thereby attenuating oxidative damage after IR.