Ageing-induced decrease in cardiac mitochondrial function in healthy rats

It is widely recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction is a key component of the multifactorial process of ageing. The effects of age on individual components of mitochondrial function vary across species and strains. In this study we investigated the oxygen consumption, the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ), the sensitivity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) to calcium overload, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in heart mitochondria isolated from old compared with adult healthy Sprague-Dawley rats. Respirometry studies and Δψ measurements were performed with an Oxygraph-2k equipped with a tetraphenylphosphonium electrode. ROS production and calcium retention capacity were measured spectrofluorimetrically. Our results show an important decline for all bioenergetic parameters for both complex I and complex II supported-respiration, a decreased Δψ in mitochondria energized with complex I substrates, and an increased mitochondrial ROS production in the old compared with the adult group. Mitochondrial sensitivity to Ca²⁺-induced mPTP opening was also increased in the old compared with the adult animals. Moreover, the protective effect of cyclosporine A on mPTP opening was significantly reduced in the old group. We conclude that healthy ageing is associated with a decrease in heart mitochondria function in Sprague-Dawley rats.