Factors affecting determination of superoxide anion generated by mitochondria from barley roots after anaerobiosis

During the post-hypoxic period, symptoms of oxidative stress and activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems were observed in several plant tissues. In the roots, mitochondrial respiratory chain is the main source of ROS. Superoxide anion radical is formed in the mitochondrial electron-transport chain at the level of Complexes I and III. The purpose of this work was to estimate superoxide anion production by the mitochondria isolated after a period of hypoxic treatment. Seedlings of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown on a nutrient medium flushed for 5 d with air (control) or nitrogen (hypoxia) and then transferred for 24 h to aerated medium (post-hypoxia). Production of superoxide anion by the mitochondria was measured by SOD-inhibitable oxidation of adrenaline to adrenochrome with NADH as a respiratory substrate. Hypoxic treatment increased mitochondrial activity but decreased mitochondrial superoxide anion appearance outside the mitochondrial membrane as compared to the mitochondria isolated from the roots continuously grown on aerated medium. The result of lower superoxide anion determination is attributed to increased antioxidants concentration during hypoxia. This was confirmed by inhibition of O2−radical dot production by exogenous GSH and stimulation by addition of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), which depleted endogenous mitochondrial GSH.