Assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in cells.

Abstract in brief

• Assessing mitochondrial dysfunction involves defining specific functions, primarily the mitochondria's ability to produce ATP in response to energy demands, with tailored methods for other functions.
• Techniques to evaluate mitochondrial health include measuring respiration rates, membrane potential, and their responses to various stimuli, using isolated mitochondria or intact cells for different levels of control and physiological relevance.
• The most effective assessments are mitochondrial respiratory control and cell respiratory control, which evaluate ATP production, coupling efficiency, respiratory capacity, and sites of dysfunction, often complemented by membrane potential measurements for a comprehensive analysis.]