Volume 50: 315-319, 2001

Postnatal Development of Energy Metabolism in the Rat Brain

M. KALOUS1,2, H. RAUCHOVÁ1, Z. DRAHOTA1

1Center for Experimental Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and 2Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Received April 18, 2000
Accepted October 5, 2000


Summary
The activities of cytochrome c oxidase and FoF1-ATPase as well as the content of cytochromes cc1, aa3, and b were investigated in free brain mitochondria in the course of postnatal development and aging. The results show an increase of Vmax of both enzymes during postnatal development (between day 5 and 30). During the following phase ending at the age of 6 months, a decrease of FoF1-ATPase and cytochrome c oxidase activity occurs. From 6 to 12 months of age the activity of these enzymes did not change. The KM for both enzymes remained unchanged during the whole period observed. The content of cytochromes increased from the low values found in young rats, reached the highest values at around one month, and decreased till the age of 3 months. Later, their content in brain mitochondria did not markedly change. Our results suggest that the metabolic maturation of brain mitochondria differs in several aspects from the same process in other tissues, mainly in the time course. This is probably due to the unique role of neural tissue in the organism.


Key words
Brain mitochondria · Energy metabolism · Cytochrome c oxidase · Cytochromes · FoF1-ATPase

Reprint requests
Dr. M. Kalous, Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2, Viničná 7, Czech Republic.

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
© 2001 by the Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences

ISSN 0862 - 8408

Issue 3