The relationship between the size of mitochondria and the intensity of light that they scatter in different energetic states.
The intensity of light scattered at 90 degrees to the incident beam and the effective hydrodynamic radii of mitochondria incubated under a variety of conditions have been measured. Addition of high concentrations of uncouplers to respiring mitochondria resulted in a decrease in scatter which was not due to swelling. Addition of valinomycin to mitochondria depleted to substrate in K+-free medium produced an increase in scatter that was not due to shrinking. It is concluded that changes in the intensity of scattered light are not reliable indices of changes of volume of mitochondria, and the changes in conformation with changes in metabolic state dominate changes in light scatter. A molecular mechanism for the effect of metabolic state upon the scattered intensity is suggested.
D000818:Animals; D008027:Light; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
D014634:Valinomycin