Fig. 6.

Medullary interstitial cells (MICs) were loaded with TMRM and exposed to 600 mosmol/L for 12 hours with or without Cyclosporine A (CsA). CCCP (50 μM) was used as positive control to dissipate the mitochondrial membrane potential both under isotonic and hypertonic conditions (top and middle row, middle images). Hypertonic medium caused significant loss of membrane potential, which was prevented by CsA (middle row, left and right images). Preloading MICs with organic osmolytes (1 mmol/L medium concentration), prior to exposure to 600 mosmol/L for 12 hours, preserved mitochondrial as shown by persistent TMRM fluorescence.