Interactions of copper and thermal stress on mitochondrial bioenergetics in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

• Interacting effects of Cu and temperature were investigated in rainbow trout liver mitochondria.
• Mitochondrial functional indices are highly sensitive to temperature change.
• High and low temperatures sensitize mitochondria to adverse effects of Cu.
• Cu induces a highly temperature-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
• Cu-imposed mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation is mediated by reactive oxygen species.

Thermal stress may influence how organisms respond to concurrent or subsequent chemical, physical and biotic stressors. To unveil the potential mechanisms via which thermal stress modulates metals-induced bioenergetic disturbances, the interacting effects of temperature and copper (Cu) were investigated in vitro. Mitochondria isolated from rainbow trout livers were exposed to a range of Cu concentrations at three temperatures (5, 15 and 25 °C) with measurement of mitochondrial complex I (mtCI)-driven respiratory flux indices and uncoupler-stimulated respiration. Additional studies assessed effects of temperature and Cu on mtCI enzyme activity, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), swelling kinetics and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Maximal and basal respiration rates, as well as the proton leak, increased with temperature with the Q10 effects being higher at lower temperatures. The effect of Cu depended on the mitochondrial functional state in that the maximal respiration was monotonically inhibited by Cu exposure while low and high Cu concentrations stimulated and inhibited the basal respiration/proton leak, respectively. Importantly, temperature exacerbated the effects of Cu by lowering the concentration of the metal required for toxicity and causing loss of thermal dependence of mitochondrial respiration. Mitochondrial complex I activity was inhibited by Cu but was not affected by incubation temperature. Compared with the calcium (Ca) positive control, Cu-imposed mitochondrial swelling exhibited variable kinetics depending on the inducing conditions, and was highly temperature-sensitive. A partial reversal of the Cu-induced swelling by cyclosporine A was observed suggesting that it is in part mediated by MPTP. Interestingly, the combination of high Cu and high temperature not only completely inhibited mitochondrial swelling but also greatly increased the respiratory control ratio (RCR) relative to the controls. Copper exposure also caused marked MMP dissipation which was reversed by N-acetyl cysteine and vitamin E suggesting a role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this response. Taken together, Cu impairs oxidative phosphorylation in part by inhibiting the electron transport chain (ETC), stimulating proton leak, inducing MPTP and dissipating MMP, with high temperature exacerbating these effects. Thus environmental temperature rise due to natural phenomenon or global climate change may sensitize fish to Cu toxicity by exacerbating mitochondrial dysfunction.