**Pravastatin and Gemfibrozil Modulate Di**ff**erently Hepatic and Colonic Mitochondrial Respiration in Tissue Homogenates from Healthy Rats**

#### **Anna Herminghaus \*, Eric Laser** †**, Jan Schulz, Richard Truse, Christian Vollmer, Inge Bauer and Olaf Picker**

Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany

**\*** Correspondence: anna.herminghaus@med.uni-duesseldorf.de; Tel: +49-211-81-12195

† In partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral thesis (Eric Laser).

Received: 24 July 2019; Accepted: 24 August 2019; Published: 27 August 2019

**Abstract:** Statins and fibrates are widely used for the managemen<sup>t</sup> of hypertriglyceridemia but they also have limitations, mostly due to pharmacokinetic interactions or side effects. It is conceivable that some adverse events like liver dysfunction or gastrointestinal discomfort are caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Data about the effects of statins and fibrates on mitochondrial function in different organs are inconsistent and partially contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pravastatin (statin) and gemfibrozil (fibrate) on hepatic and colonic mitochondrial respiration in tissue homogenates. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was determined in colon and liver homogenates from 48 healthy rats after incubation with pravastatin or gemfibrozil (100, 300, 1000 μM). State 2 (substrate dependent respiration) and state 3 (adenosine diphosphate: ADP-dependent respiration) were assessed. RCI (respiratory control index)—an indicator for coupling between electron transport chain system (ETS) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ADP/O ratio—a parameter for the efficacy of OXPHOS, was calculated. Data were presented as a percentage of control (Kruskal–Wallis + Dunn's correction). In the liver both drugs reduced state 3 and RCI, gemfibrozil-reduced ADP/O (complex I). In the colon both drugs reduced state 3 but enhanced ADP/O. Pravastatin at high concentration (1000 μM) decreased RCI (complex II). Pravastatin and gemfibrozil decrease hepatic but increase colonic mitochondrial respiration in tissue homogenates from healthy rats.

**Keywords:** pravastatin; gemfibrozil; liver; colon; mitochondrial function
