Delayed onset of neurologic deterioration following anoxia/ischemia coincides with appearance of impaired brain mitochondrial respiration and decreased cytochrome oxidase activity.

We previously demonstrated markedly inhibited brain mitochondrial respiration only in cats that (a) were hyperglycemic at anoxia and (b) had neurologic signs, i.e., fasciculations in tongue or facial muscles or focal seizures following reoxygenation. However, since the relationship between time of onset of mitochondrial dysfunction and neurologic signs was unclear, in the present study we killed postanoxic cats immediately when signs first appeared. Cerebrocortical homogenates and isolated brain mitochondria only from symptomatic cats showed markedly inhibited substrate-, ADP-, and uncoupler-stimulated respiration rates. Cytochrome oxidase activity and cytochrome aa3 concentrations were also markedly reduced in these mitochondria. Since brain mitochondrial function was impaired when neurologic signs first appeared, mitochondrial alterations are an important early organellar change correlated with development of neurologic deterioration following anoxia.