Mitochondrial membrane potential gain - (Sep/05/2009 )

How should I interpret a gain of mitochondrial membrane potential in a drug treated sample in comparison to a non-treated control? Furthermore, this is a sample where I get some cell death, which confuses me even more...

If you have an increase of mitochondrial membrane potential and your cells are dying its because you are facing an apoptotic process induced by your treatment. increase of MMP is an indicative of apoptosis which is followed by mitochondrial membrane depolarization and release of cytochrome c.