Effect of lonidamine on the mitochondrial potential in situ in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

The effect of lonidamine (LND) on the mitochondrial membrane potential, in situ, of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells was investigated by using the safranine method. LND, because of its ability to inhibit electron transport from endogenous substrates to respiratory carriers, induced a de-energization of mitochondria. Addition of glucose to rotenone-treated cells induced mitochondrial membrane potential as shown by the spectral shift similar to that which occurred upon energization of mitochondria. The build-up of membrane potential in rotenone-treated cells was due to glycolytically-generated ATP because the response to glucose was abolished by LND which inhibited the glycolysis of neoplastic cells by affecting the mitochondria bound hexokinase.