[Study of the transmembrane potential of mitochondria using cyanine dyes]

Changes in fluorescent intensity of cyanine dyes dis-C3-(5) and dis-C2-(5) were measured in suspension of rat liver mitochondria upon the development of the energized state by adding succinate or ATP. It has been shown that these dyes possess a rotenone-like effect but they do not damage the inner mitochondrial membrane. The data on ATP synthesis and Ca2+ transport correspond to the basic aspects of the chemiosmotic conception.