[Atypical mitochondria and crystallines in chromatolytic neuronal swelling]

Chromatolytic neuronal swelling was observed in the various brain regions, e. g. precentral cortex, pons and anterior horn of the spinal cord etc., of a 50-year-old woman showing psycho-organic syndrome and various neurological symptoms over a period of 14 years. In these inflated, chromatolytic nerve cells, atypical mitochondrias and paracrystalline structures were seen. Atypical mitochondrias contained membranous trans-somal bridges composed of about 60 A parallel filaments with a spacing of about 80 A. Paracystalline structures consisted of 7-16 hexagonal lattices with electron-light dots 160 A in diameter and with 280 A spacing. The goniometer revealed another featue of the paracrystals, i.e., lamellar structures consisting of 4-10 parallel filaments 120 A thick with a spacing of 160 A. These paracrystals were compared with similar structures in physiological and pathological conditions and the significance of the atypical mitochondrias was discussed.