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  • Title: Undesirable feature of safranine as a probe for mitochondrial membrane potential.
    Author: Valle VG, Pereira-da-Silva L, Vercesi AE.
    Journal: Biochem Biophys Res Commun; 1986 Feb 26; 135(1):189-95. PubMed ID: 3954769.
    Abstract:
    This communication describes experiments showing that safranine, at the concentrations usually employed as a probe of mitochondrial membrane potential, causes significant undesirable side effects on Ca2+ transport by liver mitochondria. The major observations are: (i) safranine potentiates the spontaneous Ca2+ release from liver mitochondria induced by phosphate or acetoacetate. This is paralelled by potentiation of the release of state-4 respiration and of the rate of mitochondrial swelling, indicating a generalized effect of the dye on the mitochondrial membrane; (ii) the efflux of mitochondrial Ca2+ stimulated by hydroperoxide is irreversible in the presence of safranine even if membrane stabilizers such as Mg2+ and ATP are present. It is concluded that the use of safranine to monitor the changes in membrane potential during Ca2+ transport by mitochondria should be avoided or special care be taken.
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