MITOCHONDRIA IN LIVING CELLS: AN ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENTS

Abstract
Time-lapse cinephotomicrography of mouse embryonic fibroblasts before and shortly after perfusion of tissue cultures reveals that the elongation of mitochondria caused by coenzyme A results from the terminal association of many shorter rods into a smaller number of long filaments. These are not permanent associations, but they reflect an exaggeration of the cohesive tendency of mitochondria, which in untreated cells is counterbalanced by frequent disjoinings and breakings of the anastomotic network.