The sphingolipid ceramide has been implicated in mediating cell death that is accompanied
by mitochondrial functional alterations. Moreover, ceramide has been shown to accumulate
in mitochondria upon induction of apoptotic processes. In this study, we sought to evaluate
the effects of natural, highly hydrophobic long-chain ceramides on mitochondrial function in
vitro. Ceramide in a dodecane/ethanol delivery system inhibited the opening of the
mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) induced by either oxidative stress, SH …