MitoTracker transfers from astrocytes to neurons without the mitochondria
The mitochondrial dye MitoTracker is commonly used to investigate intercellular mitochondrial transfer (IMT), particularly between astrocytes and neurons.
The researchers compare MitoTracker with a genetically encoded mitochondrial fluorophore and imaged neurons after co-culture with astrocytes or astrocyte-conditioned media (ACM).
They demonstrate that MitoTracker can transfer from astrocytes and ACM to neurons in the absence of mitochondrial transfer, without requiring cell contact.
The authors suggest the use of alternative labeling techniques to investigate astrocyte-neuron mitochondrial transfer.
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-methods/fulltext/S2667-2375(26)00038-X
