Pretreatment with mexidol under conditions of acute liver damage in rats showed inhibition of lipid peroxidation, normalization of enzymes-markers activity in damage of hepatocytes, and normalization of blood serum bilirubin level; mexidol (3-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-ethylpyridine succinate) influences the state of homeostasis in guinea pigs intoxicated with paracetamol [1] [2].

Not so far nitric oxide (NO) has been recognized as an important source in several biological systems in combination with specific enzymes responsible for endogenous NO production in mammalian cells, whereas the biological effect of NO is dependent on the concentration at the site of action [3].

The nature of mexidol and nitroglycerine joint effects on the nitric oxide formation in the liver tissue was unknown until the relaxation factor stimulating the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which serves as a secondary mediator for neurotransmitters and hormones that can influence guanylate cyclase and have a vasodilation effect had been found. Simultaneously, the mechanisms of the blood vessel dilation have been discovered in interaction of acetylcholine with receptors of blood vessel endothelial cells, leading to the formation of small molecules migrating into the muscle layer and causing their relaxation [4]. These molecules are called endothelial relaxation factors (ERF) [5] [6] [7] [8]. The generation of NO by activated macrophages has been studied [9] [10] [11]. It has been found that the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of macrophages mediated by nitric oxide (NO). When activated by bacterial endotoxins or T-lymphocytes, macrophages activate the synthesis of iNOS enzyme, participating in a pathway converting arginine to nitric oxide. The latter is secreted from macrophages (MF) and quickly penetrates bacteria, fungi, or tumor cells. There, nitric oxide inhibits vital groups of enzymes: the mitochondrial respiratory chain of the Krebs cycle and DNA synthesis. Under these conditions, energy production and cell division become impossible which can lead to cell death.

The beneficial role of nitric oxide (NO) is its circulatory effects and free radical scavenging properties, effect on vascular control including modulation of vascular tone and inflammation under the normal conditions [12].

Individual or combined treatment effect with using mexidol and nitroglycerine on iron-sulfur centers in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, cytochrome P-450 of the endoplasmic reticulum, and nitric oxide formation in the liver tissue was studied [13].

To understand the nature of cytostatic and cytotoxic signals, it is necessary to consider reactions with oxygen and superoxide radicals. The products of these reactions are peroxynitrites and are responsible for the toxic effects of nitrogen oxide (NO). Suppression of aconitase in the Krebs cycle [14]. ribonucleotide reductase, interaction with thiols, and depletion of energy reserves currently discussed as possible pathways for cell death.

In the in vitro experiments, both the direct effect of mexidol on the liver tissue of experimental animals and its combined effect with nitroglycerine (NG) on the state of iron-containing centers (ISCC) of mitochondria and heme-containing proteins in the composition of integral animal tissues were studied.

Analysis of the EPR spectra obtained from liver tissue samples incubated only with Mexidol for 24 h at room temperature and control samples incubated under the same conditions showed, that NO is also formed in liver tissue samples after incubation with Mexidol (Figure 1).

When subtracting the EPR spectra of the control liver samples (Figure 1(2)) from the EPR spectra of the samples incubated in the presence of Mexidol (Figure 1(1)), the signal of Hem-NO complexes recorded (Figure 1(3)). The appearance of this signal indicates formation of nitric oxide in the liver tissues under the action of Mexidol. It is interesting to note that, in experiments with SHK mice line, formation of NO practically not observed in heart tissues without nitroglycerine, whereas for animals of the C57Bl/6 line, the formation of nitric oxide was observed.

Figure 2 shows the EPR spectra collected from the liver tissue samples, taken 24 h after the start of incubation with nitroglycerine and mexidol (Figure 2(1)), and nitroglycerine separately (Figure 2(2)). In liver tissue samples after incubation with NG, in addition to the ISCC signals usually observed in the liver of intact animals with a g-factor of 1.94 (N-1b centers of the NADH-dehydrogenase complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain) and cytochrome P-450 with g₁ = 2.42 and g₂ = 2.25, an intense signal was recorded with a characteristic triplet splitting at g = 2.01. This is a well-known signal, which is due to nitrosyl

complexes of heme iron with nitric oxide Hem-NO [15] [16]. In the EPR spectra of the liver tissue, this signal is due to the presence of nitrosyl complexes of two heme-containing proteins: Hem-NO and cytochrome P-450-NO.

The appearance of Hem-NO complexes is evidence of the well known formation effect of a large amount of NO during the regenerative biotransformation of NG in the body, which was registered for the first time in [17]. and then in other works, and is also recorded in tissue homogenates. In the EPR spectra of samples incubated with mexidol and nitroglycerine, the level of complexes due to the binding NO to the R-conformers of hemoglobin (an oxygenated form of hemoglobin) was higher than with nitroglycerine alone.

In Figure 2(1) g-factor components at 2.04 and 1.98 were noted, which belong to the EPR spectrum of nitrosyl complexes of R-conformers of hemoglobin. It was previously shown that hemoglobin molecule in different conformational states interacting with NO resulted in the appearance of EPR spectra different shaped lines.

Figure 2 shows the EPR spectrum obtained by subtracting the spectrum in Figure 2(2) from the spectrum in Figure 2(1). The difference spectrum is entirely due to the Hem-NO nitrosyl complexes. This means that the signal intensity of the Hem-NO complexes in the samples incubated with NG and mexidol together was higher than with NG separately. That is, mexidol contributes to the additional formation of nitric oxide. It should be noted that there are differences in the shape of the EPR spectra of the nitrosyl complexes Hem-NO in Figure 2(1) and Figure 2(2).

When studying the dependence of the EPR spectra for nitrosyl complexes of hemoglobin on the degree of saturation of NO for various subunits and various states of hemoglobin, it was found that the alpha chains of the Hem-NO complexes are sensitive to the R- and T-states of the quaternary structure of hemoglobin [8] [18].

The resulting shape of EPR spectra collected from nitrosyl complexes Hem-NO will be determined by the ratio of oxygenated—R and non-oxygenated—T-conformers of hemoglobin. The appearance in the EPR spectra after the introduction of mexidol and nitroglycerin component complex at g-factors of 2.04 and 1.98 in Figure 2(1) indicates an increase in the proportion of complexes due to the oxygenated form of hemoglobin. These data indicate that the presence of mexidol contributes to the increase in the degree of hemoglobin oxygenation.

Figure 3 is showing the EPR spectra taken from liver tissue samples in mice after 30 min start of incubation with saline solution (1); mexidol at a concentration of 2.5 × 10⁻³ M (2); and nitroglycerin at a concentration of 6 × 10⁻⁶ M (3). As it can be seen, in liver tissue samples after incubation with NG, in addition to the signals usually observed in the liver of intact animals with a g-factor of 1.94 (center of the N-1b NADH-dehydrogenase complex) and cytochrome P-450 with g = 2.42 and g = 2.25, an intense signal of nitrosyl complexes of heme-NO was recorded (Figure 4) with characteristic triplet splitting at g = 2.01 [17]. In the EPR spectra of the liver, due to the presence of nitrosyl complexes of two heme-containing proteins, Hem-NO and cytochrome P-450-NO were observed. The appearance of Hem-NO complexes is indicating formation of a large amount of NO during the biotransformation of NG. The intensity of the EPR signal of the ISCC during incubation of liver tissues for 26 h at room temperature with mexidol at a concentration of 2.5 × 10⁻³ M, and with NG at a concentration of 6 × 10⁻⁶ M, and their complex decreased further. The largest decrease at a factor of 3.4 is associated with the oxidation of the ISCC, which occurred in the presence of NG.

The use of a mexidol in combination with nitroglycerine also promoted the oxidation of ISCC, although to a lesser extent the activity of the ISCC decreased 2.9 times. After 26 h of incubation with Mexidol, the activity of the ISCC decreased by only 1.2 times, in the control sample by 3 times. The use of mexidol alone protected the ISCC from oxidation, and the intensity of the ISCC signal after 26 h incubation of liver tissues with mexidol was 1.5 times higher than in the control.

The data obtained is indicating the ability of mexidol to protect the ISCC of the mitochondrial respiratory chain from oxidation, including that induced by NG, supporting the functioning of mitochondrial electron transport chain and, consequently, the energy supply of cells. The signal intensity of the Hem-NO complexes increased with time: 1.5 times after 26 h of incubation in the presence of NG; 2.8 times in the presence of mexidol and NG (Figure 4).

Consequently, the amount of NO formed in the liver tissues was higher when mexidol was used. Analysis of the EPR spectra of samples incubated with mexidol and control samples incubated under the same conditions showed, that NO was formed in liver tissue samples after incubation in the presence of mexidol.

Based on the obtained data, it can be assumed, that observed increase in NO production under the action of mexidol (Figure 2) might be related precisely to its properties as a reducing agent due to one of its constituent parts, hydroxypyridine part of the mexidol molecule.

In liver tissues, almost all cells are capable of expressing iNOS hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, endothelial cells, Ito cells; therefore, the increase in NO production in liver tissues will be higher and more easily observed comparing to heart tissues. Mexidol can also affect the activity of iNOS in vascular endothelial cells since in these cells inducible iNOS also functions in addition to constitutive endothelial NO synthase. Intensity changes in iron-sulfur proteins signals and Hem-NO nitrosyl complexes shown in Table 1 and Table 2.

Mexidol compared to control p = 0.021, (**p < 0.05). Mexidol and Mexidol + NG p = 0.020.

Note: for signals of 26 h with NG compared to Mexidol + NG p = 0.0208 p.a.; **p < 0.05. In the control samples at 0.5 h, no signals of the hemoglobin nirosyl complexes observed.

The indicated concentrations of mexidol and nitroglycerin (NG) are consistent with their clinical use. A decrease in the oxidation of iron-sulfur proteins in the presence of nitroglycerin (approximately 3.4 times) can be noted. In combined action of Mexidol with nitroglycerine, it was noted that activity of these proteins is decreasing to 2.9 times. a is decrease in ICP observed by 1.2 times; simultaneously, during incubation with Mexidol for 26 hours, in the control samples, activity of these proteins decreased by 3 times; b is change in intensity of the Hem-NO signal in liver tissues incubated with NG and NG + Mexidol for 0.5 and 26 h at room temperature, respectively. As can be seen from Table 2 and Figure 4, in the presence of NG, the signal intensity of nitrosyl complexes Hem-NO increases to 1.5 times, and in the joint incubation with Mexidol increases to 2.8 times.

In summary, the results of experimental studies have shown that mexidol exhibits a multifaceted positive effect, when used alone and when combined with nitroglycerine: it increases the yield of NO, which promotes vascular relaxation. In addition, in clinical use, this action of mexidol can reduce the dose of nitroglycerine. Mexidol reduces the negative effect of nitroglycerine on mitochondria, protecting the LSC from oxidation, and increases the degree of hemoglobin oxygenation.

Experiments performed in accordance with the provisions of the Helsinki Declaration for human and animal treatment.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Zhumabaeva, T., Kuropteva, Z., Moldalive, Z., Zhumabaeva, N., Kadyrbaeva, A., Bopoev, N. and Abdullaeva, Z. (2021) Joint Effects of Mexidol and Nitroglycerine on Nitric Oxide Formation in Animal Liver Tissues. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 11, 73-82. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajmb.2021.113007