Experiment Tags: Mitochondrial membrane potential, ΔΨm, JC-1 assay, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, cell biology protocol
Experiment Summary: This protocol describes a JC-1–based method for assessing mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in cultured cells. By comparing red and green fluorescence signals generated by JC-1 aggregates and monomers, respectively, changes in ΔΨm can be detected as an early indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. The procedure applies to both flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy and includes detailed guidance on cell preparation, staining, data acquisition, and analysis.