On isolated hepatocytes mitochondrial swelling induced in hypoosmotic medium does not affect the respiration rate.

In isolated hepatocytes incubated in hypoosmotic media, a large increase in the mitochondrial volume is not directly involved in the activation of respiration. Moreover, results of the quantification of the various bioenergetic parameters are not in accordance with an activation of the respiratory chain as previously proposed (Halestrap, A.P. (1989) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 973, 355-382), but point more to an inhibition of respiration. The same respiration rate is obtained in hypoosmolar incubation media in vitro and in situ for a higher overall thermodynamic driving force over the electron transport chain.