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. 2008 Mar;56(3):145-9.
doi: 10.1007/s10616-008-9143-2. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

A method for measuring mitochondrial mass and activity

Maria Agnello  1 , Giovanni Morici, Anna Maria Rinaldi
Affiliations

A method for measuring mitochondrial mass and activity

Maria Agnello et al. Cytotechnology. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

Mitochondria, responsible for the energy-generating process essential for the cell metabolism, differ for the number, localization and activity in animal cells and tissues in relation to the energetic needs. Using fluorescent probes specific for mitochondria, Mitotracker Green (MTG) and Orange (MTO), and Confocal Laser-Scanning Microscope (CLSM), we elaborated a method to measure in vivo the mitochondrial mass and activity, in sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus eggs and embryos. The analysis of captured images, revealed a variation of mitochondrial distribution and an increase of activity after fertilization.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mitochondrial mass and oxidative activity. Distribution of green (MTG) and red (MTO) in 15 parallel sections of unfertilized eggs (A), just fertilized eggs (B), 4 blastomeres (C). Green (1) and red (2) fluorescence; (3) merge. Bar = 50 μm
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Enlargement of 3 sections of unfertilized eggs (A), just fertilized eggs (B), 4 blastomeres stage (C). Bar = 50 μm
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mitochondrial activity relative to mass. Normalization of red signals (Ir) versus green (Ig) of unfertilized eggs, just fertilized eggs, 4 blastomeres. The Ir and Ig values are measured along the equatorial plane. 100 pixel = 30 μm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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