Assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in primary cardiomyocytes

This Application Note describes a method for profiling mitochondrial function in cells responding to stress. The mitochondrial profile generated in this way provides four parameters of mitochondrial function that can be measured in one experiment: basal respiration rate, ATP-linked respiration, proton leak, and reserve capacity. The results described here suggest that the development of cardiomyocyte injury, in this case caused by an oxidized lipid, increases ATP-linked oxygen consumption, diminishes respiratory efficiency, and depletes the bioenergetic reserve capacity. Seahorse Bioscience recently introduced the XF Cell Mito Stress Test Kit for use with the XF Analyzer, enabling researchers to confidently establish a complete mitochondrial profile with pre-tested and precalibrated reagents.