Mitochondrial behaviour, morphology, and animal performance

Abstract

We have a limited understanding of the proximate mechanisms that are responsible for the development of variation in animal performance and life-history strategies. Provided that components of an organism's successful life historyfor example, mate competition, gestation, lactation, etc.are energetically demanding, increased energy production within mitochondria is likely the foundation from which organisms are able to perform these tasks. Mitochondrial behaviour (positioning within the cell and communication between mitochondria) and morphology affect variation in energy production at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Therefore, adaptations in mitochondrial behaviour and morphology that favour efficient energy production likely influence variation in animal performance. Previous work has linked greater proportions of inter-mitochondrial junctions and density of the inner mitochondrial membrane, among other traits, with increased energetic demand. Future research should focus on how inter-mitochondrial junctions and morphology of the inner mitochondrial membrane, in particular, influence animal performance in accordance with mitochondrial density, fission, and fusion. Biological Reviews 95 (2020) 730-737

Effects of high rosuvastatin doses on hepatocyte mitochondria of hypercholesterolemic mice

“…Animal model studies have explored diseases that affect mitochondrial function altering the transport of metabolites to mitochondria (especially ADP) 39 . We did not explore the intimal mechanism of the respiratory chain alteration, but there is information regarding the changes that other statins induce in muscle mitochondrial function 40 – 42 . Moreover, a decrease in mitochondrial respiration was observed in rats treated with low doses of Rosuvastatin 1 mg/kg/day (not statistically significant); and a small decrease in respiration of the mitochondrial complex was also reported at the same doses, but without affecting the functioning of this complex 37 .…”

Rosuvastatin: Morphological and Respiratory Effects of High Doses on Liver Mitochondria from Hypercholesterolemic Mice

“…In animal models it has been observed diseases that affect mitochondrial function, that also alter the transport of metabolites to the mitochondria (especially ADP) [32] so it would be important to evaluate whether rosuvastatin in high doses has a possible effect on the expression or the operation of ANT 1 and 2 conveyors; though we did not explore the intimal mechanism of the respiratory chain alteration. However, there is information regarding the changes that other statins induce in muscle mitochondria function [33,34,35]. The 3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl-CoA / mevalonate ratio in the liver homogenate was high from the third day and very high after the 5th day, this result re ects the decrease in the activity of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase…”

Roles of mitonuclear ecology and sex in conceptualizing evolutionary fitness

“…For instance, let us take respiratory function as a trait of interest. Those individuals within a given population that have a greater respiratory efficiency are typically considered to be "more fit", provided that those individuals may be better at supporting their own growth, selfmaintenance, and reproduction (Harada et al, 2019;Heine & Hood, 2020). Based on all the individuals within a given population, we may want to determine the optimum respiratory function provided a certain combination of mt and N genes.…”

“…The answer to this worry is that very few aspects of animal survival and reproductive success could be carried out successfully without efficient mitochondrial function (i.e., animals need to produce energy efficiently to survive and reproduce at all). For further explanations of how mitochondria are ubiquitously linked to whole-animal performance, we refer the reader to Heine and Hood (2020).…”