A method for determination of membrane fluidity (microviscosity) in Bacillus subtilis cytoplasmic membrane under in vivo conditions is described. The membranes were labelled with the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene during the exponential phase of growth. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements were carried out in an intact cell suspension having absorbance A as high as 0.2-0.3 (corresponding to a cell concentration of 100-300/nL).