RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MITOCHONDRIAL SUPEROXIDE AND HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE PRODUCTION AND LONGEVITY OF MAMMALIAN-SPECIES

The objective of this study was to examine the possible involvement of oxygen free radicals in the aging process. Rates of mitochondrial O2. - and H2O2 production and oxygen consumption in the kidney and the hea rt were compared among seven different mammalian species namely, mouse , hamster, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, pig, and cow, whose maximum life s pan potential (MLSP) varies from 3.5 to 30 years. The rates of mitocho ndrial O2.- and H2O2 generation were inversely correlated to MLSP, and directly related to specific metabolic rate and state 4 mitochondrial respiration. Results of this study indicate that under identical cond itions, mitochondria from shorter-lived species produce relatively hig her amounts of reactive oxygen species than those from the longer-live d species, and, thus, support the free radical hypothesis of aging.