title: Isolation of mitochondria from the CNS.
abstract: This unit contains a protocol describing the isolation of brain mitochondria by using discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation. The Percoll density gradient centrifugation separates synaptosomes, myelin, and free nonsynaptic mitochondria released from cells during tissue homogenization into individual fractions. Mitochondria entrapped in synaptosomes (synaptic mitochondria) can be liberated using nitrogen cavitation and then further purified by Percoll gradient centrifugation. These methods yield mitochondria that exhibit good respiratory coupling and high respiratory rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Organized Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kristian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002458:Cell Fractionation / Q000379:methods*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient / Q000379:methods*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D051381:Rats; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000737:chemistry; D013574:Synaptosomes; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017672:Nitrogen Compounds