Altered Mitochondrial Anatomy of Trigeminal Ganglia Neurons in Diabetes.
Neurons from sensory ganglia are exposed to oxidative attack in diabetes. Altered mitochondrial morphologies are due to impaired dynamics (fusion, fission) and to cristae remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate using transmission electron microscopy mitochondrial changes in diabetic trigeminal ganglia suggestive for ignition of apoptosis, in absence of "classical" morphological signs of apoptosis. We used samples of trigeminal ganglia (from six type 2 diabetes human donors and five streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats). In human diabetic samples we found three main distributions of mitochondria: (a) small "dark" normal mitochondria, seemingly resulted from fission processes; (b) small "dark" damaged mitochondria, with side-vesiculations (single- and double-coated), large matrix vesicles and cytosolic leakage of reactive species, mixed with larger "light" mitochondria, swollen, and with crystolysis; (c) prevailing "light" mitochondria. In STZ-treated rats a type (c) distribution prevailed, except for nociceptive neurons where we found a different distribution: large and giant mitochondria, suggestive for impaired mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial fenestrations, matrix vesicles interconnected by lamellar cristae, and mitochondrial leakage into the cytosol. Thus, the ultrastructural pattern of mitochondria damage in diabetic samples of sensory neurons may provide clues on the initiation of intrinsic apoptosis, even if the classical morphological signs of apoptosis are not present. Further studies, combining use of biochemical and ultrastructural techniques, may allow a better quantification of the degree in which mitochondrial damage, with membrane alterations and cytosolic leaks, may be used as morphological signs suggesting the point-of-no return for apoptosis. Anat Rec, 299:1561-1570, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. anatomon@gmail.com.
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Rusu
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania.
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Mănoiu
Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Vrapciu
Division of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; "Mina Minovici" National Institute of Legal Medicine, Bucharest, Romania.
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Hostiuc
Institute of Biology of Bucharest, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Mirancea
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
apoptosis; mitochondrial membranes; sensory neurons; transmission electron microscopy