EVIDENCE OF ULTRACYTOCHEMICAL MITOCHONDRIA-DERIVED HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE ACTIVITY IN MYOCARDIAL-CELLS FROM BROILER-CHICKENS WITH AN ASCITES SYNDROME

The location of the cytotoxic reactive oxygen metabolite hydrogen pero xide was investigated ultracytochemically in broiler chickens which ha d been reared at sea level and had spontaneous hypoxia-induced ascites syndrome. In the ascitic birds the activity was located within the mi tochondrial matrices of the cardiomyocytes, whereas in flock-mate cont rol birds it was membrane-bound. Little or no activity was present in negative control material, which was prepared by detoxification with c atalase, by extraction with acetone, by the omission of NADH and by th e replacement of NADH by NADPH. The study demonstrated that there was probably hydrogen peroxide activity in the mitochondria of the ascitic birds.