EFFECTS OF TETRAZOLIUM SALTS ON OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION IN RAT-LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract
The effects of 5 different tetrazolium salts on oxidative phosphorylation in rat-liver mito-chondria have been investigated. In all cases the mitochondria were uncoupled by very low concentrations of the tetrazolium salts. Further, the transition from a system just exhibiting respiratory control to one in which the mitochondria were totally uncoupled has been shown to occur over very small concentration ranges of the tetrazolium salts. The effectiveness of the 5 tetrazolium salts as uncoupling agents is discussed in the light of their standard electrode potentials and effectiveness as electron acceptors in dehydrogenase linked reactions.