Global ischaemia induces a biphasic response of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Anoxic pre-perfusion protects against ischaemic damage.

Studies of Langendorff-perfused rat hearts have revealed a biphasic response of the mitochondrial respiratory chain to global ischaemia. The initial effect is a 30-40% increase in the rate of glutamate/malate oxidation after 10 min of ischaemia, owing to an increase in the capacity for NADH oxidation. This effect is followed by a progressive decrease in these oxidative activities as the ischaemia is prolonged, apparently owing to damage to Complex I at a site subsequent to the NADH dehydrogenase component. This damage is exacerbated by reperfusion, which causes a further decrease in Complex I activity and also decreases the activities of the other complexes, most notably of Complex III. Perfusion for up to 1 h with anoxic buffer produced only the increase in NADH oxidase activity, and neither anoxia alone, nor anoxia and reperfusion, caused loss of Complex I activity. Perfusing for 3-10 min with anoxic buffer before 1 h of global ischaemia had a significant protective effect against the ischaemia-induced damage to Complex I.