Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Histological Examination of Mitochondrial Morphology in a Parkinson's Disease Model
Published on: June 23, 2023
Mitochondrial disease and stroke
E Martínez-Fernández1, A Gil-Peralta, R García-Lozano
1Stroke and Neuromuscular Units, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain. med010426@nacom.es
Background And Purpose:
It is well known that some mitochondrial disorders are responsible for ischemic cerebral infarction in young patients. Our purpose was to determine, in this prospective ongoing study, whether ischemic stroke is the only manifestation of a mitochondrial disorder in young patients.
Methods:
Patients aged =50 years, admitted to the Stroke Unit from January 1999 to May 2000 with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke of unknown origin, were included in the study. All of them had full biochemical and hematologic tests, neuroimaging studies, transesophageal echocardiography, and extracranial and transcranial Doppler sonography. Patent foramen ovale was ruled out. Lactic acid concentrations were measured after anaerobic exercise of the forearm, and a morphological, biochemical, and molecular study after biceps muscle biopsy was performed.
Results:
Of the 18 patients so far included, 3 (17%) presented lactic acid hyperproduction after physical exercise, and 6 (33%) showed deficit of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. The molecular analyses have confirmed mitochondrial mutations at base pairs 3243 (characteristic of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes [MELAS]), 4216, and 15 928.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that ischemic stroke may be the only manifestation or the initial manifestation of a mitochondrial disorder.
More Related Videos
08:48Using Live Cell STED Imaging to Visualize Mitochondrial Inner Membrane Ultrastructure in Neuronal Cell Models
Published on: June 30, 2023
08:56Modeling Mitochondrial Disease Using Brain Organoids: A Focus on Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes
Published on: October 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Mitochondrial Membranes
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Stroke: Introduction and Types
Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology