Use of Flow Cytometry as a Tool to Study Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Isolated, Living Hepatocytes

S. Salvioli, R. Maseroli, T. L. Pazienza, V. Bobyleva^*, and A. Cossarizza

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of General Pathology, University of Modena, via Campi, 287, 41100 Modena, Italy; fax: (39-59) 42-8103; E-mail: bobyleva@unimo.it

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received October 15, 1997

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The present paper describes the possibility of determination of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi) in isolated hepatocytes making use of a deltapsi-sensitive dye, i.e., the lipophilic cationic probe 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and of cytofluorimetry. The validity of the method was proved by treating hepatocytes with FCCP (decrease of deltapsi) and subsequent addition of 6-ketocholestanol (increase of deltapsi). The results indicate that the proposed method may be used in laboratory practice.

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KEY WORDS: hepatocytes, cytofluorimetry, mitochondrial membrane potential, 6-ketocholestanol, FCCP

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