Mitochondrial inclusions in muscle biopsy

A transmission electron micrograph showing abnormal mitochondria with crystalline inclusions. This often occurs in hypermetabolic disorders and shows the disruption of normal mitochondrial structures. The crystals may be either ion crystals or protein crystals. This is a section through a muscle biopsy and clusters of contractile filaments are seen around the mitochondria. Biomedical Image Awards 2001.