Defective oxidative metabolism of heart mitochondria from genetically diabetic mice.

Long chain saturated beta-hydroxy fatty acid content and oxidative metabolism were studied in hearts of diabetic mice (C57BL/KsJ db/db) with a progressive cardiomyopathy at intervals of 7, 10, 16, and 26 wk of age. Total beta-hydroxy fatty acid (BHFA) content increases progressively with age in diabetic hearts with a mean value of 143.5 nmol/g dry wt as compared with a mean of 59.6 nmol/g dry wt in control hearts. There was also a redistribution of BHFA in myocardium of diabetic mice when compared with controls, with a relative decrease in beta-hydroxymyristate and an increase of beta-hydroxypalmitate. Oxidative phosphorylation studies using isolated mitochondria from diabetic mice demonstrated depressed state 3 oxidation rates with both palmityl carnitine and pyruvate as substrates. While mitochondrial NADH-oxidase activity was not statistically different from that of controls, there was a significant decrease in mitochondrial total NAD + NADH content in diabetic hearts. In addition, treatment of myocardial tissue with lanthanum demonstrated an abnormal permeability of sarcolemmal, intercalated disc as well as mitochondrial membranes in myocytes of diabetic mice. The data indicate that deficiencies in total NAD + NADH content can account for the depressed state 3 oxidation of palmitylcarnitine and pyruvate in diabetic mice that in turn may explain the abnormal accumulation of BFHA. The latter could play a role in altering the permeability of cardiac cell membranes.