Cell injury by antineoplastic agents and influence of coenzyme Q10 on cellular potassium activity and potential difference across the membrane in rat liver cells.

Potential difference across the cell membrane and intracellular activity of the potassium ion in rat liver cells were measured simultaneously using double-barreled potassium ion-selective microelectrodes. Both potential difference across the membrane and K+ activity in liver cells were depressed after treatment with the antineoplastic agents mitomycin C and 5-Flourouracil Dry Syrup, suggesting that these drugs would induce disturbances of cellular energy metabolism in liver cells. When the antineoplastic agents were used in combination with coenzyme Q10, the depression of potential difference across the membrane and K+ activity and the hypofunction of liver cells in energy metabolism were significantly prevented.