Mitochondria of human adrenal cortex have tubular cristae with bulbous tips.
By taking advantage of a modified osmium maceration technique, we have been able to examine by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) the interior of human adrenocortical mitochondria from which all soluble material has been extracted. The so-called vesicles apparent in thin sections examined by transmission electron microscopy actually are finger-like cristae as determined by HRSEM. These digitiform cristae have a segmented appearance and a bulbous tip. The segmented form of the cristae may have important metabolic implications.
Riva
Alessandro
A
Department of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari, Italy. riva@unica.it
Loffredo
Felice
F
Uccheddu
Alessandro
A
Riva
Francesca Testa
FT
Tandler
Bernard
B
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure*