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MINIREVIEW
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Cardiac
Myocytes
L. ŠKÁRKA, B. OŠŤÁDAL
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences,
Centre for Experimental Cardiovascular Research, Prague, Czech
Republic
Received January 9, 2002
Accepted March 25, 2002
Summary
Mitochondria are involved in cellular functions that transcend
the traditional role of these organelles as the energy factory
of the cell. Their relative inaccessibility and the difficulties
involved in attempts to study them in their natural environment
- the cytosol - has delayed much of this understanding and they
still have many secrets to yield. One of the relatively new
fields in this respect is undoubtedly the analysis of
mitochondrial membrane potential. The realization that its
alteration may have important pathophysiological consequences
has led to an increased interest in measuring this variable in a
variety of biological settings, including cardiovascular
diseases. Measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential tell
us much about the role of mitochondria in normal cell function
and in processes leading to cell death. However, we must be
aware of the limitations of using isolated mitochondria, single
cells and different fluorescent indicators.
Key
words
Heart mitochondria · Membrane potential · Hypoxia
Reprint
requests
Dr. Libor Škárka, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences
of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech
Republic, Fax: +420 2 4106 2125, e-mail:
skarka@biomed.cas.cz
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