[Principles of quantitative evaluation of the structural-functional state of cell organelles]

Possibilities of estimation of the structural and functional state of cells by means of morphometrical methods are depicted. On principle, 2 kinds of parameters are used: 1.1. Coefficients of the functional activity of organelles related to cytoplasmic unit volume, 1.2. coefficients of structural preservation of cell organelles. For the authors' research, coefficients of ergastoplasm, free polyribosomes and mitochondria are of special interest. Certainly, the above mentioned principles can be applied to studies on other cell organelles, too, provided that the following rules are considered: 2.1. The organelles should be easily identifyable, 2.2. the interpretation of their function should be generally accepted, 2.3. the structure under consideration should be accessible for morphometrical analysis.