Generation of superoxide radicals by ischemic heart mitochondria

Tiron (1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid, disodium salt) was used as a spin trap to detect superoxide radicals produced by rat heart mitochondria. It was shown that ischemia results in the enhancement of the mitochondrial superoxide-forming activity. In the presence of the oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler mesoxalonitrile (3-chlorophenyl)-hydrazone the superoxide production rate in the control mitochondria increases, that in the ischemic mitochondria remains unchanged.