Monitoring mitochondrial membranes permeability in live neurons and mitochondrial swelling through electron microscopy analysis

摘要: Maintenance of mitochondrial membrane integrity is essential for mitochondrial function and neuronal viability . Apoptotic stimulus or calcium overload leads to mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP ) opening and induces mitochondrial swelling , a common feature of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. The first phenomenon can be evaluated in cells loaded with the dye calcein -AM quenched by cobalt , and mitochondrial swelling can be detected by electron microscopy through the analysis of mitochondrial membrane integrity. Here, we describe a live cell imaging assay to detect mitochondrial permeability transition and the development of a detailed analysis of morphological and ultrastructural changes that …