[Changes in the phospholipid content of intact mitochondria under mitochondrial swelling in hypotonic sucrose solutions].

Mitochondrial swelling in hypotonic sucrose solutions is accompanied by a decrease of the amount of phosphatidyl ethanolamines, cardiolipids and their lyso-derivatives. An addition of dicaine (inhibitor of phospholipase) to the incubation medium results in a considerable decrease of mitochondrial swelling and prevents the decay of phosphatidyl ethanolamines and cardiolipids. This effect is due to the inhibition of corresponding phospholipases. The data obtained suggest that the passive mitochondrial swelling is accompanied by activation of endogenous phospholipases and by a hydrolysis of cardiolipids, phosphatidyl ethanolamines and their lyso-derivatives.