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A convenient model for studying the mechanisms of biological self-organization is described by morphometric investigation of formation of mitochondrion associations in medium containing physiological concentration of potassium ions without nonpolar substances. Association formation was considerably better at 15-18 degrees C during isolation and storage than at 0 degree C. The existence of filamented mitochondria in homogenate was also shown by staining of succinate dehydrogenase. Formation of associations increased in medium pretreated with negative air ions carrying superoxide and is probably due to hydrogen peroxide. The effect of substances influencing the surface charge on association formation was studied.

The effect of negative air ions (NAI) inhalation by rats on energy reactions of mitochondria in homogenates of liver and brain was studied. The influence of NAI was investigated under activation of animals by administration of physiological dose of adrenaline. Adrenaline administration induced hyperactivation of the rate of phosphorylating oxidation of succinic acid in liver and brain mitochondria which was accompanied by oxalacetate inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) as well as excessive Ca2+ accumulation in liver mitochondria. These changes connected with a decrease of coefficient of phosphorylation efficiency ADP/O and uncoupler stimulation of respiration evidenced decrease of energy control of respiration in mitochondria. NAI inhalation diminished the rate of hyperactivated respiration and abolished excessive Ca2+ accumulation. These changes together with ADP/O coefficient and DNP stimulation increase evidence improvement of energy control of respiration which provide more moderate function of the respiratory chain under activation by adrenaline. Animals were excited by adrenaline administration. This effect was abolished by NAI inhalation, animals relaxed, some fell asleep. The data evidence sensitivity of mitochondrial processes in internal organs to inhalation of NAI and show participation of mitochondria in realization of physiological effects of NAI.

The effect of negative air ions (NAI) was investigated on physiological processes of peroxidative oxidation in mitochondria preserving their native structure organization in associations in rat liver homogenate. Tchijevsky lustre generating superoxide was served as a source of NAI. The investigated objects were put into solutions pretreated with NAI flow. An increase of peroxide induced Ca2+ release from mitochondria loaded with the cation was found. Under prolonged action of NAI flow on homogenates kept in ice followed by incubation in media pretreated with NAI an elevation of products of peroxide lipid oxidation (POL) was found in case of their low initial level and decrease of POL products in case of their high initial level. The range of changes is considerably less than under pathogeneous rise of POL. The discovered mild activation of peroxidative oxidation within physiological range of POL concentrations is considered as a primary physico-chemical mechanism of beneficial biological action of NAI.