Action of some neurotropic drugs and Cu 2+ cations on mitochondrial membrane permeability

Abstract

1. 1. Chlorpromazine (2.5 × 10 −4−1 × 10 −3M) and imipramine (5 × 10 −4−3 × 10 −3M) caused rapid swelling of rat liver mitochondria suspended in isotonic NaCl and KCl solutions, but not in isotonic sucrose. 2. 2. Copper cations added (6.66 × 10 −5M) reversed effects of chlorpromazine and imipramine on freshly prepared mitochondria. 3. 3. Imipramine protected mitochondrial membranes against lytic action of triton X-100 in manner similar to chlorpromazine. 4. 4. Neurotropic drug-copper cation interaction at the level of mitochondrial membranes is discussed.