Aluminium Uptake by Rat Isolated Hepatocytes and Its Effect on Mitochondria Oxygen Uptake

The aluminium uptake by rat isolated hepatocytes and its effect on oxygen uptake has been investigated. The hepatocytes aluminium content has elevated after incubation in medium containing aluminium-transferrin (Al-tf) or free aluminium (ultrafiltrable). The free aluminium (Al) influx to the cell is two times more than aluminium bound transferrin. The aluminium uptake from transferrin depends on the degree of saturation of transferrin depends on the degree of saturation of transferrin with AI. Aluminium transferrin complex and ultrafiltrable fractions of aluminium lead to the reduction of oxygen uptake by 18 and 32 percent respectively. Cellular uptake of aluminium and its effect on mitochondria function has been discussed.