Visualization of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species via double staining

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of both generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitrochondrial membrane potential cannot be detected simultaneously. We here introduce a simple, new double staining method. We have successfully used this for several years utilizing cerium for ROS detection and JC-1 staining to assess the mitochondrial membrane potential. The resultant signals on laser confocal images can be localized in the same cells and can easily quantify them. We used a confocal microscope along with our new, combined staining method to both visualize mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and imaged ROS. These were quantified by JC-1 staining and by cerium ions with reflectance in a method modified in our laboratory. To test this double labeling technique we used PC 12 cells subjected to1 h hypoxia and 24 h re-oxygenization. We are able to produce a quantitative analysis of red/green signals of JC-1 that reflected the energy state of the cells. Cerium reflectance correlates with the amount of ROS release in the same cells. Significant differences have been calculated after hypoxia and re-oxygenation in both modality of the cell staining. The red/green ratio was 18.2 ± 9.3 (n = 30) in normoxic cells versus 1.65 ± 0.9 (n = 30) in the hypoxia/re-oxygenation group (p < 0.05). In the same randomly selected cells the average cerium reflectance signal intensity was 2.5 ± 1.2 (n = 30) in the control group while 5.8 ± 3.1 (n = 30) in the hypoxia/re-oxygenation group (p < 0.05). This assay, by characterizing hypoxic injury and re-oxygenization induced ROS production, offers a qualitative and quantitative method to detect the consequences of oxidative stress in experimental conditions and to detect different cell protective strategies.