Sex-dependent differences in macaque brain mitochondria

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Bioenergetics 2024-11, Vol.1865 (4), p.149494, Article 149494
• Main Authors: Guerrero, Ivan, Yoval-Sánchez, Belem, Konrad, Csaba, Manfredi, Giovanni, Wittig, Ilka, Galkin, Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; ATPase; Brain - metabolism; Cytochrome c oxidase; Electron Transport Complex I - metabolism; Electron Transport Complex IV - metabolism; Energy Metabolism; Female; Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complex - metabolism; Macaca mulatta; Male; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial complex I; NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Primates; Sex; Sex Characteristics; Succinate dehydrogenase; TCA cycle; α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
• ISSN: 0005-2728; 1879-2650; 1879-2650
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2024.149494

Mitochondrial bioenergetics in females and males is different. However, whether mitochondria from male and female brains display differences in enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation remains unknown. Therefore, we characterized mitochondrial complexes from the brains of male and female macaques (Macaca mulatta). Cerebral tissue from male macaques exhibits elevated content and activity of mitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) and higher activity of complex II (succinate dehydrogenase) compared to females. No significant differences between sexes were found in the content of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase or in the activities of cytochrome c oxidase and F1Fo ATPase. Our results underscore the need for further investigations to elucidate sex-related mitochondrial differences in humans. •We measured the content and activity of mitochondrial enzymes in the brains of male and female macaques (Macaca mulatta).•Mitochondrial complex I content and activity were higher in males than in females.•Complex II succinate dehydrogenase activity was higher in males than in females.•No statistically significant difference was observed in the content of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase of the TCA cycle.•Complex IV cytochrome c oxidase and F1Fo ATPase activities showed no statistically significant differences between sexes.