Effect of Carnosine on Self-Organization of Mitochondrial Assemblies in Rat Liver Homogenate

M. V. Zakharchenko^*, A. V. Temnov, and M. N. Kondrashova

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Moscow Region, Russia; fax: (8-27) 79-0553; E-mail: marinakul@id.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received October 17, 2002; Revision received November 26, 2002

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The effect of carnosine on self-organization of mitochondrial assemblies was studied in rat liver homogenate of quiescent and excited animals. It was shown in separate electron microscopy experiments with serial slices that under our conditions of preparation of homogenate, blocks of native mitochondrial-reticular network in the cell, assemblies of mitochondria, are kept. Carnosine was shown to prevent dissociation of assemblies during storage. Its effect is maximal for more dissociated assemblies from excited animals with decreased ability for self-organization. Prevention of disassembly of organelles by carnosine can serve as one of the mechanisms of carnosine-induced diminishing of muscle fatigue under prolonged work.

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KEY WORDS: mitochondria, carnosine, morphometry, self-organization

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