Oxidative phosphorylation by pyridoxine-deficient rat brain mitochondria

Abstract— Oxygen uptake, ADP/O ratios and respiratory control ratios (RCR) were studied by the oxygen electrode technique in mitochondria prepared from adult and neonatal brains from normal and pyridoxine-deficient rats. The mitochondria from neonatal brain exhibited decreased rates of substrate oxidation, ADP/O ratios and respiratory control ratios in comparison to those obtained with mitochondria from the respective adult brains. The cytochrome contents of the neonatal brains were also less than those of the adults. Within the neonatal or adult groups, there were no differences in any of the parameters tested between the normal and pyridoxine-deficient rats.