High levels of mitochondrial DNA deletions in skeletal muscle of old rhesus monkeys
SR Schwarze, CM Lee, SS Chung, EB Roecker… - Mechanisms of ageing …, 1995 - Elsevier
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions increase in abundance with age in many tissues,
however, their calculated low levels (usually< 0.1%) in samples from tissue homogenates
containing thousands of cells argue against physiologic significance. Through the analysis
of defined numbers of cells (skeletal muscle fibers) from rhesus monkeys, we report that the
calculated abundance of specific mtDNA deletions is dependent upon the number of fibers
analyzed: as the number of fibers decreases, the calculated deletion abundance increases …
however, their calculated low levels (usually< 0.1%) in samples from tissue homogenates
containing thousands of cells argue against physiologic significance. Through the analysis
of defined numbers of cells (skeletal muscle fibers) from rhesus monkeys, we report that the
calculated abundance of specific mtDNA deletions is dependent upon the number of fibers
analyzed: as the number of fibers decreases, the calculated deletion abundance increases …