COMPARISON OF MITOCHONDRIAL RESPIRATORY-CHAIN ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN RODENT ASTROCYTES AND NEURONS AND A HUMAN ASTROCYTOMA CELL-LINE

This study has found that mitochondrial NADH-CoQ(1) reductase (complex I) activity is significantly lower in C57 mice astrocytes compared wi th Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rat astrocytes, and a human astrocytoma c ell line. In addition, complex I activity is 4-fold greater in Sprague -Dawley neurones when compared to Wistar or C57 neurones. These findin gs have important implications for mitochondrial studies involving rod ent or human cell line systems, and in particular, indicate the import ance of choosing an appropriate model when investigating the mitochond rial respiratory chain. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.