Protective effects of idebenone against alterations in dynamic microstructure induced by lipid peroxidation in rat cardiac mitochondria.

The antioxidative effect of idebenone was studied in isolated mitochondria from the rat heart. Variables for dynamic microstructure, membrane viscosity and wobbling angle of phospholipids, were measured by means of a nanosecond time-resolved fluorometer. Exposure of isolated cardiac mitochondria to oxidative conditions in vitro caused significant alterations in lipid peroxidation, wobbling angle of phospholipids and membrane viscosity. Exposure of mitochondria to oxidative conditions after idebenone pretreatment resulted in no significant alterations in membrane viscosity and wobbling angle of phospholipids. Alterations in these variables seemed to be related to the amount of peroxidized lipid. Protection of phospholipids against peroxidation by antioxidative substances is effective in maintaining nearly normal physical properties in the dynamic microstructure of cardiac mitochondrial membranes.