The Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer is a powerful platform for investigating cellular bioenergetics in both health and disease. By simultaneously measuring the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in real time, Seahorse assays yield critical insights into mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic function — the two principal pathways of cellular energy metabolism.

Key benefits include:

1. Real-Time Functional Readouts. Seahorse analysis allows dynamic monitoring of how cells respond to substrates, inhibitors, or stressors.
2. Comprehensive Profiling of Mitochondrial Function. It provides info on basal respiration, ATP-linked respiration, proton leak, maximal respiratory capacity, spare capacity, and coupling efficiency. These measures provide a system-level understanding of mitochondrial health. In addition, the preferential use of energy production substrates by the cell (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids) could be determined.
3. Assessment of Glycolysis and Metabolic Flexibility. This is particularly relevant in conditions where metabolic rewiring occurs, such as cancer, immune activation, or neurodegeneration.
4. Therapeutic Discovery and Biomarker Development. By enabling rapid screening of metabolic responses to drugs or genetic interventions, Seahorse assays accelerate discovery of metabolic modulators. Parameters derived from Seahorse analysis can also serve as functional biomarkers of disease progression or treatment efficacy.