A comparison of Zn2+- and Ca2+-triggered depolarization of liver mitochondria reveals no evidence of Zn2+-induced permeability transition

Intracellular Zn2+ toxicity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Zn2+ depolarizes mitochondria in assays using isolated organelles as well as cultured cells. Some reports suggest that Zn2+-induced depolarization results from the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). For a more detailed analysis of this relationship, we compared Zn2+-induced depolarization with the effects of Ca2+ in single isolated rat liver mitochondria monitored with the potentiometric probe rhodamine 123. Consistent with previous work, we found that relatively low levels of Ca2+ caused rapid, complete and irreversible loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, an effect that was diminished by classic inhibitors of mPT, including high Mg2+, ADP and cyclosporine A. Zn2+ also depolarized mitochondria, but only at relatively high concentrations. Furthermore Zn2+-induced depolarization was slower, partial and sometimes reversible, and was not affected by inhibitors of mPT. We also compared the effects of Ca2+ and Zn2+ in a calcein-retention assay. Consistent with the well-documented ability of Ca2+ to induce mPT, we found that it caused rapid and substantial loss of matrix calcein. In contrast, calcein remained in Zn2+-treated mitochondria. Considered together, our results suggest that Ca2+ and Zn2+ depolarize mitochondria by considerably different mechanisms, that opening of the mPTP is not a direct consequence of Zn2+-induced depolarization, and that Zn2+ is not a particularly potent mitochondrial inhibitor.