The mode of mitochondrial degeneration in gliomas.

Morphologically abnormal mitochondria from human glial tumours are described. For each tumour both the appearances of the mitochondria, and the subsequent mode of degeneration and formation of osmiophilic pigment is characteristic. The significance of these observations is discussed, and it is suggested that the mode of degeneration observed reflects directly a fundamental abnormality in composition compared to normal mitochondria.