USE OF FLOW-CYTOMETRY AS A TOOL TO STUDY MITOCHONDRIAL-MEMBRANE POTENTIAL IN ISOLATED, LIVING HEPATOCYTES

The present paper describes the possibility of determination of mitoch ondrial membrane potential (Delta omega) in isolated hepatocytes makin g use of a Delta psi-sensitive dye, i.e., the lipophilic cationic prob e 5,5'6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1'3,3 '-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine io dide (JC-1) and of cytofluorimetry. The validity of the method was pro ved by treating hepatocytes with FCCP (decrease of Delta psi) and subs equent addition of 6-ketocholestanol (increase of Delta psi). The resu lts indicate that the proposed method may be used in laboratory practi ce.