JC-10 is widely used as a fluorescent probe to measure mitochondrial membrane potential in live cells. It is particularly valuable in apoptosis research, where changes in mitochondrial membrane potential are early indicators of cell death. In healthy cells, JC-10 accumulates in mitochondria and forms red fluorescent aggregates, while in cells undergoing apoptosis, it remains in the cytoplasm as green fluorescent monomers. This shift from red to green fluorescence allows for easy detection and quantification using fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. Due to its high sensitivity and reversible staining properties, JC-10 is preferred over older dyes like JC-1, especially in long-term cell imaging and high-throughput screening assays. It is also used in studies related to mitochondrial function in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and drug toxicity.