Ki. Hirai et al., Mitochondrial NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (NQO(m)) produces reactive oxygen species in the chemical injury of rat liver mitochondria, ACT HIST CY, 32(3), 1999, pp. 239-242
The generation of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria was investiga
ted using electron microscopic cytochemistry and energy-filtering transmiss
ion electron microscopy in reference to the toxic mediator of paraquat pois
oning. When isolated intact mitochondria from rat livers were reacted with
paraquat in the presence of NADH, mitochondrial NADH-quinone oxidoreductase
generated superoxide anions to cause the destruction of mitochondria which
resulted in cell death. Cerium chloride captured hydrogen peroxide and for
med cerium perhydroxide precipitates on the outer surface of the mitochondr
ial outer membrane. This localization was also clearly identified with elec
tron spectroscopic imaging based on electron energy loss spectral analysis.