Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Robust Mitochondrial Isolation from Rodent Cardiac Tissue
Published on: August 23, 2024
Mitochondrial damage as death inducer in heart-derived H9c2 cells: more than one way for an early demise
Antonio Lax1, Fernando Soler, Francisco Fernández-Belda
1Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30071 Murcia, Spain.
Abstract:
The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria induced by 10 microM thapsigargin was linked to rapid loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential whereas that induced by 50 nM staurosporine was mediated by Bax activation and occurred in polarized mitochondria. Similar levels of cytochrome c were observed when induced by either thapsigargin or staurosporine indicating that the release magnitude was independent of the mechanism involved in membrane permeabilization. In any case caspase 3 activation was subsequent to cytochrome c release. Mitochondrial dysfunction and release of cytochrome c occurred earlier when induced by thapsigargin even though morphological alteration of the cell and chromatin condensation were developed earlier in the presence of staurosporine. In addition, a general and irreversible caspase inhibitor did not protect against chromatin condensation induced by staurosporine. It is also shown that earlier mitochondrial damage does not always correlate with earlier cell demise. This can be attributed to the existence of alternative caspase-independent cell death programmes.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis
Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...

