Hormone-initiated maturation of rat liver mitochondria after birth.

1. The injection of adrenaline, glucagon or cyclic AMP into foetal rats in utero initiates the maturation of energy transduction in rat liver mitochondria before birth. 2. The injection of the beta-blocker, propranolol, prevents this maturation process. 3. The maturation of mitochondrial energy transduction is measured in terms of the increase in the respiratory control index and mitochondrial adenine nucleotide concentration. 4. It is postulated that the actions of the hormones, acting through cyclic AMP, affect glycogenolysis and glycolysis to give rise to transient localized high concentrations of ATP. 5. It is the ATP that acts as the molecular trigger, effecting mitochondrial maturation.