Mitochondrial membrane potential, transmembrane difference in the NAD+ redox potential and the equilibrium of the glutamate-aspartate translocase in the isolated perfused rat heart.

The distribution of glutamate and aspartate and the mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi) were studied in isolated rat heart mitochondria and in the intact perfused rat heart. The diffusion potential imposed by the glutamate-aspartate exchange through mediation of the electrogenic glutamate-aspartate translocator attained a value close to the mitochondrial delta psi measured from the distribution of triphenylmethylphosphonium ion (TPMP+) both in isolated mitochondria and in intact myocardium. Distributions of the delta psi probe and metabolites were determined by subcellular fractionation of the heart muscle in a non-aqueous medium. The results indicate that the glutamate-aspartate translocator is in near equilibrium in the myocardium. The diffusion potential of the glutamate-aspartate exchange, and the mitochondrial/cytosolic difference in the redox potentials of the free NAD+/NADH pools are equal allowing for experimental error. These data obtained from intact tissue can therefore be interpreted as supporting the notion of the transmembrane uphill transport of reducing equivalent from the cytosolic free NAD+/NADH pool being driven by the malate-aspartate cycle energized by the mitochondrial delta psi.