Vol. 39, No. 3-4, 1995
Changes in the internal structure of neuronal mitochondria in dog brains after short-term ischaemia/reperfusion
Zachariáš, L., Pomfy, M.
Faculty of Medicine
University of P. J. Safarik
Srobarova 2
040 01 Kosice
Slovak Republic
Summary
Cerebral ischaemia results in damage to mitochondrial function, which lasts some time, even during brain reperfusion. Using an electron microscope, we studied the ultrastructural changes of mitochondria in the dendrites of mitral cells of the bulbus olfactorius of dogs after 7 min of ischaemia and 24 hours of recirculation. In the samples examined, we observed different degrees of mitochondrial damage. Besides normal unaffected mitochondria, mitochondria with local, partial swelling (mostly at their end) as well as mitochondria with more severe changes were observed. Numerous mitochondria have lost their internal structure with partial or complete loss of cristae and brightening of the matrix, changing the mitochondria into empty vacuoles. Frequently, the ruptured walls of swollen mitochondria were observed. The occurrence of small mitochondria with normal internal ultrastructure was rather frequent. Some authors assume these mitochondria to be the newly formed mitochondria.
Key words: ischaemia; mitochondria; ultrastructure; bulbus olfactorius
This article is dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. P. P o p e s k o, DVM, DSc on the seventieth anniversary of his birth.
References
Folia Veterinaria / 1995