The effects of various carboxylic ionophores on divalent metal cation translocation in mitochondria have been investigated. High levels of divalent cation ionophores lysocellin and lasalocid A (10 approximately 50 micrometer) produced mitochondrial osmotic swelling in Ca2+ or Mg2+ medium, which was associated with an increase of cation influx. The extent of swelling was a function of both the ionophore and cation concentrations in the medium. This effect was larger in mitochondria de-energized by treatment with antimycin A and oligomycin than in respiring mitochondria. On the other hand, the monovalent cation ionophores carriomycin and etheromycin at concentrations of 50 approximately 100 micrometer also induced mitochondrial swelling in Ca2+ medium but were ineffective in Mg2+ medium. Addition of ruthenium red reversed divalent cation ionophore-induced swelling and released Ca2+ from preloaded mitochondria. In contrast, ruthenium red increased monovalent cation ionophore-induced swelling. In a divalent cation-free medium, lysocellin and lasalocid A caused depletion of membrane-bound Ca2+ and released endogenous Ca2+ and Mg2+ from mitochondria, while carriomycin and etheromycin exerted only a limited effect. These results indicate that the divalent cation ionophores affect divalent cation distribution in mitochondria by increasing both influx and efflux of the cations through the inner membrane.