Energy metabolism of cerebral mitochondria during aging, ischemia and post-ischemic recovery assessed by functional proteomics of enzymes

The catalytic activities of enzymes markedly differ according to: (a) mitochondrial type (non-synaptic, intra-synaptic), (b) age, (c) acute effects of ischemia and (d) post-ischemic recirculation at different times. Enzyme activities changes are injury maturation events and strictly reflect the bioenergetic state of the tissue in each specific experimental condition respect to the energy demand, as shown by the comparative evaluation of the energy-linked metabolites and substrates content. Remarkably, recovery of mitochondrial function was more difficult for intra-synaptic mitochondria in “aged” rats, but enzyme activities of energy metabolism tended to normalize in all mitochondrial populations after 96 h of recirculation. This observation is relevant for Therapy, indicating that mitochondrial enzymes may be important metabolic factors for the responsiveness of ischemic penumbra towards the restore of cerebral functions.