Efficient and accurate analysis of mitochondrial morphology in a whole cell with a high-voltage electron microscopy.

Mitochondria in all eukaryotes are essential organelles responsible for adenosine triphosphate synthesis, calcium homeostasis and steroidogenesis. Because the structure and distribution of mitochondria are highly diverse depending on their function and cellular conditions, it is important to develop a rapid and accurate method to assess their morphology. In this study, we visualize whole mitochondria in cultured cells using high-voltage electron microscopy (HVEM). Compared with conventional transmission electron microscopic approaches, the present method does not require thin sectioning and thus requires less time for image acquisition and processing. Furthermore, compared with fluorescence-based light microscopic approaches, our method provides more accurate size information. Thus, we propose that HVEM is a useful tool for rapid and accurate analysis of mitochondrial morphology and distribution in a cell.