Morphometric evaluation of myofibrillar mitochondria in experimental administration of ethylene glycol.

The authors carried out morphometric analysis of the surface, area, circumference and shape of myofibrillar mitochondria in rats submitted for acute experimental intoxication with ethylene glycol. The measurements were taken at 12 and 24 hours after intoxication and compared with those in the control group. A significant increase in mitochondrial circumference and surface area was seen as early as 12 hours with their shape being more rounded than elongated. At 24 hours of the experiment the parameters further increased. The use of computer image analysis permitted an objective and measurable confirmation of changes in electronograms and revealed the presence of disorders in the phase in which traditional methods were useless.