Variations in mitochondrial ultrastructure and dynamics observed by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM)
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2026

Mitochondria and Endoplasmic Reticulum Imaging by Correlative Light and Volume Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 20, 2019
P J Lea1, R J Temkin, K B Freeman
1Canadian Genetic Diseases Network, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Abstract:
Rat adrenal cortex was processed for high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) to confirm tubular cristae, reported by transmission electron microscopy to be present in cortex mitochondria. Mitochondria in several other tissue and cell types were also observed and their ultrastructure confirmed by using three-dimensional, stereo, high resolution scanning electron microscopy. The mitochondria in rat and human hepatocytes as well as human skin fibroblasts grown in culture contained tubular cristae approximately 30 nanometers in diameter. The fibroblast mitochondria proved to be long, up to 46 micrometers and branching, as compared to those in liver which were spherical in shape. Cold adapted brown fat cells were packed with mitochondria, these containing plate or shelf-like cristae. Branched, rat striated muscle mitochondria were observed to curve around contractile protein filament bundles. The muscle mitochondrial cristae were found to be both tubular and plate-like, within the same mitochondrion. The ratio of tubular cristae to plate-like cristae varied considerably between muscle mitochondria. In order to use ultrastructural changes in mitochondria for differential diagnosis, and because 3D reconstruction of mitochondria based on transmission electron microscopy serial sections is severely limited in resolution, it is imperative to first develop a correct understanding of tissue specific, normal mitochondrial ultrastructure based on three-dimensional, HRSEM methods.
Related Concept Videos
Mitochondrial Membranes
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Overview of Electron Microscopy
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)

