Mitochondrial membrane potential and neuronal glutamate excitotoxicity: mortality and millivolts

In the past few years it has become apparent that mitochondria have an esse ntial role in the life and death of neuronal and non-neuronal cells. The ce ntral mitochondrial bioenergetic parameter is the protonmotive force, Delta p. Much research has focused on the monitoring of the major component of D elta p, the mitochondrial membrane potential Delta psi(m), in intact neuron es exposed to excitotoxic stimuli, in the hope of establishing the causal r elationships between cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction. Several fluo rescent techniques have been used, and this article discusses their merits and pitfalls.