[Changes in the transmembrane potential of thymocytes during dexamethasone- and Ca2(+)-induced apoptosis]

By means of the method of potential-sensitive fluorescent probes is established that under dexametazone-induced apoptosis (0.1-10 microM) the reduction of transmembrane potentials (TMP, delta phi) on plasmatic (delta phi p) and mitochondrial (delta phi m) membranes of hormone-sensitive thymocytes is observed. Dexametazone does not changes transmembrane potentials of glucocorticoid-resistant thymocytes. Ca-ionophore A23187 realistically reduces (at the average on 26%) value of plasmatic TMP both in glucocorticoid-sensitive and glucocorticoid-resistant thymocytes. Change of delta phi is one of the mechanisms to realization an apoptotic process in rats' thymocytes. Dynamics and nature of TMP changes depend on the agent-inductor of apoptosis.