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A Quantitative Evaluation of the Mitochondrial Characteristics of Normal Cells in Phases of Growth and Function^*

T. Mukherjee, P. De and S. Mitra

( Cell Research Unit, Chittarajnan National Cancer Research Centre, Calcutta, India)

A study has been made of the mitochondrial characteristics in normal stratified squamous epithelium of human cervix, in phases of growth and function, following fixation with freezing-drying (8) and staining by slight modifications of Chang's (2) technic. The following characteristics were observed: Mitochondrial concentration per cu. µ of cell cytoplasm was maximum in the interphase cells of the basal layer, which represented growing cells, and diminished gradually to a minimum in the superficial functioning cells. A change in the total mitochondrial population per 2-µ section of the cell was also observed. A significant change in the axis of rod-shaped and filamentous mitochondria was observed from the growing to the functioning cells. In the growing cells the greater number of mitochondria were found at right angles to the basement membrane, whereas in the functioning cells their position was parallel to the basement membrane. The morphological distribution (in percentage) of rods, filaments, and dots was found to be quite constant.

^* This work was supported by a grant of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research given to the Chittaranjan National Cancer Research Centre.

Senior Research Fellow of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India.

Received 8/ 2/60.