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Abnormalities of Mitochondria

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Functional Ultrastructure
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Abstract

Structural abnormalities of mitochondria are found most often in inherited disorders affecting the skeletal muscle (myopathies) and central nervous system and in addition can be caused by drug toxicity (alcohol, hydrazine, some antiretroviral drugs). Although these are quite different diseases involving different pathogenetic mechanisms, the observed structural changes of the mitochondria are alike. These abnormalities consist not only of an increase of the number of mitochondria but also of an enlargement and abnormal shape, variation in the number of cristae and particular patterns of cristae, and in abnormal inclusions. The functional consequences of these mitochondrial abnormalities can be far reaching and systemic due to the common underlying impairment of oxidative phosphorylation.

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Pavelka, M., Roth, J. (2010). Abnormalities of Mitochondria. In: Functional Ultrastructure. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-99390-3_68

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