In
a neuron growing in culture, mitochondria have been labelled with
a vital dye that accumulates in energised mitochondria. When glutamate
is applied to the cell, the mitochondria become damaged and lose
the dye. This is a consequence of a massive increase in calcium
which causes mitochondrial injury. Once the mitochondria have
lost their energised state, the cell will inevitably die. This
process is thought to contribute substantial levels of cell death
in the brain following a stroke Michael Duchen link to lab. |
