The effect of uridine on the endurance of animals with different resistance to physical stress: The role of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel

Abstract

The effect of a metabolic precursor of natural activator of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel (mitochondrial K+(ATP))--uridine on animal's endurance to physical stress was studied. The endurance was determined by recording the time period during which the rat loaded with a plummet of 20% of body weight can swim until physical exhaustion at 32 degrees C. It was found that highly resistant animals swam until exhaustion for 7.40 ± 0.35 min, whereas low resistant rats hold out 2.07 ± 0.10 min only. The injection of uridine influenced the swimming time of the animals, increasing it twofold in low-resistant rats. The effect of uridine was decreased by injection of inhibitors of mitochondrial K+(ATP) channel. It was found that the injection of uridine into low resistant rats increased the rate of potassium transport in mitochondria isolated from liver of these rats, and inhibitors of the channel prevent the channel activating effect of uridine. The role of mitochondrial K+(ATP) cannel in the formation of animal's resistance to physical stress and protection of tissues from hypoxia is discussed.