Open Access

ARTICLE

Apoptogenic effect of the lipophilic o-naphthoquinone CG 10-248 on rat hepatocytes: light and electron microscopy studies

by Lidia M. Lopez*, Marta Dubin**, Patricia H. Carrizo**, Mario H. Burgos***, Amanda Pellegrino De Iraldi*, A

* Departamento de Biología Celular y Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
** Centro de Investigaciones Bioenergéticas, Facultad de Medicina (UBA-CONICET), Argentina.
*** Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM-UNCuyo-CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina.
Address correspondence to: Dr. Marta Dubin. Centro de lnvestigaciones Bioenergéticas, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Paraguay 2155, Piso 16º, (1121) Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA. Tel/Fax: (54-11) 4508-3680; E-mail: dubin@mail.retina.ar

BIOCELL 2003, 27(2), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2003.27.213

Abstract

CG 10-248 (3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-9-chloro-2H-naphtho[1,2b]pyran- 5,6-dione; CG-NQ), a β-lapachone analogue, modified the ultrastructure of rat hepatocytes, as demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. After 4 h incubation with 100 µM CG-NQ, the following effects were observed: (a) nuclear chromatin condensation; (b) chromatin fragmentation; (c) displacement of mitochondria, concentrated around the nucleus; (d) disruption or expansion of mitochondrial outer or inner membranes, respectively; (e) displacement and alteration of endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth); (f) decrease of microvilli; (g) blebbing of plasma membrane and production of apoptotic bodies formed by folding of plasma membrane fragments around mitochondria or peroxysomes; and (h) production of hydrogen peroxide. Expression of such effects varied according to hepatocyte samples and taken together strongly support an apoptotic action of CG-NQ dependent on “reactive oxygen species”.

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