Endogenous nitric oxide production modulates mitochondrion -dependent oxidative stress in cultured human placental trophoblastic cells . Goda, Nobuhito, Makoto Suematsu, Makio Mukai, Kaoru Kiyokawa, Michiya Natori, Shiro Nozawa, and Yuzuru Ishimura. Departments of Biochemistry, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160
APStracts 3:0195H, 1996.
Intracellular hydroperoxide generation in cultured human placental trophoblastic cells (HPTCs) was quantitatively monitored in the presence or absence of a NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 mM) by digital microfluorography using carboxydichlorofluorescein, a hydroperoxide-sensitive fluorogenic probe. In the absence of L-NAME, HPTCs displayed time-dependently a gradual elevation of the fluorescence, suggesting the ability to produce oxidants spontaneously. In its presence, however, the fluorescent response in these cells exhibited further increase: The oxidative impact elicited by L-NAME treatment for 30 min was equivalent to that induced by application of 230 [mu]M tert-butyl hydroperoxide for 5 min. This oxidative process was completely blocked by rotenone, a reagent which interferes with an electron entry into complex I of mitochondrial respiratory chain. On the other hand, antimycin A, which blocks mitochondria at the distal site of the ubiquinone pool, potentiated the L-NAME-induced oxidative change. These findings suggest that constitutive levels of nitric oxide production contribute to regulation of mitochondrion-derived intracellular oxidant generation in HPTCs.

Received 19 December 1995; accepted in final form 24 April 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H1183-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 May 96