Mitochondrial degeneration after organic phosphate poisoning in prosimian primates

Summary The degenerative reaction of mitochondria to tricresylphosphate (TCP) poisoning in spinal ganglion cells of Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang coucang) were studied with the electron microscope. In neurones of animals treated with TCP, mitochondria display various stages of alterations which confirm mitochondrial involvement in TCP poisoning. The role of degenerated mitochondria in the formation of neuronal lipofuscin is discussed. It is suggested that the lipofuscin granule is a metabolic product inherently related to mitochondrial degeneration, irrespective of the primary cause: ageing or intoxication.Fellow of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst on study leave from the Medical Faculty, University of SingaporeA grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Gl. 28/20) is gratefully acknowledgedThe skilfull technical assistance of Mr. Tajuddin b.M. Ali, Mr. P. Gopal, Mr. R. Dungan and Mrs. C. Weinrichter is gratefully acknowledged