OBJECTIVES:To observe the effect of solanine on the membrane potential of mitochondria in HepG2 cells and [Ca2+]i in the cells,and to uncover the mechanism by which solanine induces apoptosis.METHODS HepG2 cells are double stained with AO/EB,and morphological changes of the cells are observed using laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM).HepG2 cells are stained with TMRE,and change in the membrane potential ofmitochondria in the cells are observed using LCSM.HepG2 cells are double stained with Fluo-3/AM,and change of [Ca2+]i in the cells are observed using LCSM.HepG2 cells are double stained with TMRE and Fluo-3/AM,and both the change in membrane potential of mitochondria and that of [Ca2+]i in the cells are observed using LCSM.