Isolating Liver Mitochondria by Differential Centrifugation

Abstract

In addition to methods aimed at the study of mitochondrial function in-situ, a full understanding of mitochondrial function requires their purification from cells or tissues under specific physiological or pathological conditions. This protocol illustrates a sequential procedure to obtain functional mitochondria with high yield from mice liver tissue. Mitochondria obtained with this method can be used to assess different mitochondrial parameters, including oxygen consumption, membrane potential and calcium retention capacity.