EFFECTS OF CORTISONE ON RAT LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract

Experiments were designed to determine the effects of parenteral administration of cortisone on mitochondrial numbers of rat liver cells. Observations were made in three ways: after osmic acid fixation and appropriate stain, by phase microscopy on intact cells, and by actual enumeration of mitochondria and nuclei to provide data on mitochondria per cell. The results of the experiments indicate that the mitochondria per cell are significantly reduced under the conditions used. Each experimental approach provided similar data, and each tended to support the results obtained from the others.