The effect of spermine on Ca(2+)-dependent permeability transition in mitochondria and liposomes induced by palmitic and α,Ω-hexadecanedioic acid was studied. It has been shown that spermine inhibited the cyclosporin A-insensitive mitochondrial swelling induced by palmitic acid and Ca2+ and α,Ω-hexadecanedioic acid and Ca2+. 100 μM spermine did not influence the mitochondrial respiration in state V2 and the respiration stimulated by palmitic acid, α,Ω-hexadecanedioic acid and Ca2+. Pre-incubation of liposomes with 100 μM spermine resulted in the inhibition of palmitic acid/Ca(2+)- and α,Ω-hexadecanedioic acid/Ca(2+)-induced release of the fluorescent dye sulforhodamine B from liposomes. At the same time, spermine added to fatty acids-contained membranes of liposomes stimulated Ca(2+)-dependent release of sulforhodamine B from liposomes. It was shown that an addition of spermine to liposomes resulted in a significant increase in z-potential of liposomal membranes (from -39.8 mV to -18.6 mV). A possible mechanism of spermine influence on palmitic acid/Ca(2+)- and α,Ω-hexadecanedioic acid/Ca(2+)-induced permeability transition in mitochondria and liposomes is discussed.